EvanL
04-28-2004, 12:49 AM
VANCOUVER (CP) - Two CF-18 fighter planes escorted an Air Canada jet as it landed here today after a threat.
Officials were tight-lipped about the type of threat that prompted the two fighter jets from CFB Comox to scramble and intercept the Boeing 767 as it flew to Vancouver from Toronto.
"The emergency landing took place as a result of an unspecified threat," Cpl. Peter Thiessen of the RCMP told a news conference.
"It was a safe, routine landing. Our investigation has determined there was no real threat to any passengers during that flight."
Witness Jason Baillie watched as the passenger jet made its approach to Vancouver. He said the two fighter jets veered to the West and disappeared once the Air Canada flight touched down.
Flight 109 originated in Halifax and stopped in Toronto before arriving today afternoon in Vancouver.
"This is a routine air sovereignty operation," said Capt. Dave Muralt of Norad.
He would not confirm how many times such an operation has taken place in Canadian skies, although he said fighter jets escorted a plane into Whitehorse on Sept. 11 and another Air India plane off the East Coast in 2002.
"We are speaking with the pilot and other people related to that flight," said Thiessen
Air Canada spokeswoman Angela Mah could not say what passengers were told about the escort.
It is not known how many passengers were aboard the jet.
Passengers were allowed to collect their baggage and were not detained.
Officials in Halifax said the aircraft left the city about an hour late.
One Toronto-bound passenger said the flight to that city was normal. However, he said all of the passengers, including those flying through to Vancouver, were asked to leave the aircraft in Toronto "while the plane was cleaned."
Officials were tight-lipped about the type of threat that prompted the two fighter jets from CFB Comox to scramble and intercept the Boeing 767 as it flew to Vancouver from Toronto.
"The emergency landing took place as a result of an unspecified threat," Cpl. Peter Thiessen of the RCMP told a news conference.
"It was a safe, routine landing. Our investigation has determined there was no real threat to any passengers during that flight."
Witness Jason Baillie watched as the passenger jet made its approach to Vancouver. He said the two fighter jets veered to the West and disappeared once the Air Canada flight touched down.
Flight 109 originated in Halifax and stopped in Toronto before arriving today afternoon in Vancouver.
"This is a routine air sovereignty operation," said Capt. Dave Muralt of Norad.
He would not confirm how many times such an operation has taken place in Canadian skies, although he said fighter jets escorted a plane into Whitehorse on Sept. 11 and another Air India plane off the East Coast in 2002.
"We are speaking with the pilot and other people related to that flight," said Thiessen
Air Canada spokeswoman Angela Mah could not say what passengers were told about the escort.
It is not known how many passengers were aboard the jet.
Passengers were allowed to collect their baggage and were not detained.
Officials in Halifax said the aircraft left the city about an hour late.
One Toronto-bound passenger said the flight to that city was normal. However, he said all of the passengers, including those flying through to Vancouver, were asked to leave the aircraft in Toronto "while the plane was cleaned."