DTN News: Canadian Fighter Jets Scrambled After Bomb Threat On Cathay Pacific Plane

DTN News: Canadian Fighter Jets Scrambled After Bomb Threat On Cathay Pacific Plane Source: DTN News / Defense News

(NSI News Source Info) VANCOUVER, Canada - May 15, 2010: Canadian fighter jets were scrambled to escort a Cathay Pacific airplane en route from Hong Kong to a safe landing at Vancouver International Airport on Saturday after a bomb threat on board the aircraft. Police searched the aircraft and luggage after the flight landed at Vancouver International Airport, but found no suggestion of explosives, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They would not release details of the threat but Canadian media reported that it was made by phone. Television images showed the plane on an isolated stretch of tarmac where it was towed after landing, before passengers were allowed to disembark. No arrests have been made. Two Canadian CF-18 Hornets were scrambled from a military base on nearby Vancouver Island to escort Cathay Pacific flight CX838 in response to the threat, and flew alongside it until it landed around 1:40 p.m. local time (2040 GMT).

A Cathay Pacific passenger plane sits on the tarmac at the Vancouver International Airport on Saturday, May 15, 2010. Two Canadian fighter jets escorted a Cathay Pacific passenger plane to Vancouver International Airport after a bomb threat Saturday, authorities say.

“As a precaution, NORAD fighters escorted the aircraft until it landed safely in Vancouver,” said North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Major Holly Apostoliuk. A passenger told Canada’s CTV News after disembarking the flight. “They told us there was some sort of terrorist problem and the baggage would be held up.” When asked if he was aware that the flight had been escorted by military jets into Vancouver, another passenger said: “No, no idea. That’s news to me.”