A security guard who delayed a WestJet flight over his fears about passengers with HIV/AIDS has resigned.

Last month, members from an AIDS support group, Positive Living North, were travelling to Vancouver for a conference when they were delayed at the Prince George airport.

Their flight was held up after a private security guard expressed concern that members of the group might infect the crew and other passengers and called for a wipe-down of the plane.

The WestJet pilot called the security guard's concerns ridiculous, apologized to the group and resumed normal operation of the flight after a one-hour delay.

Joe Gavaghan, the director of communications for Garda World Security, told CBC the employee has since offered his resignation and Garda has accepted it.

When asked if the guard was given the option to keep his job, Gavaghan would not comment.

Gavaghan said he deeply regrets the incident, and an internal investigation concluded the guard did not have any malicious intent when he delayed the flight.

"There was a concern over the health and safety of people there. It wasn't appropriate. It wasn't done with malicious intent, nor with the intent to embarrass or humiliate anyone," said Gavaghan.

Carmen Nutter, the co-executive director of Positive Living North, said they weren't asking for the guard's resignation when they complained about their treatment, but for an apology and awareness about HIV/AIDS.
 
"It was about just having some acknowledgement [and] apology for the particular person's action, and there is an opportunity here to learn and educate people about HIV and AIDS," said Nutter.

Despite the incident, Nutter is pleased with the actions taken by the security company and is working with them to discuss training security workers on HIV issues.