Herbalist Dr MziziMkavu
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 3, 2009
- 42,318
- 33,125
Aircraft towed to remote spot, passengers allowed to leave
A Canadian fighter jet escorts a Cathay Pacific passenger plane headed for Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday.
VANCOUVER - Canadian fighter jets escorted a Cathay Pacific airliner incoming from Hong Kong to a safe landing in Vancouver International Airport on Saturday due to a potential security threat, a North American Aerospace Defense Command spokesperson said. The Canadian Press news agency cited Canadian Defense department officials as saying there was a bomb threat aboard Flight CX838, but they could not provide details.
Cathay Pacific Airways said in a statement that the issue was raised on the ground, not aboard the aircraft. It said the aircraft, an Airbus A340, carried 283 passengers and a crew of 14.
Television images showed the plane on an isolated stretch of tarmac, where it had been towed away from the main airport terminal.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the passengers were safely taken off the plane and no one was injured.
"They told us there was some sort of terrorist problem and the baggage would be held up," an unidentified male passenger told Canada's CTV News after disembarking the flight.
When asked if he was aware that the flight had been escorted by military jets into Vancouver, another male passenger said: "No, no idea. That's news to me."
Canadian F-18 Hornet fighter jets intercepted the plane and flew alongside it until it landed around 1:40 p.m. local time (4:40 p.m. Eastern time, 2040 GMT), drawing attention from people throughout Vancouver who heard the roar of the low-flying planes.
"As a precaution, NORAD fighters escorted the aircraft until it landed safely in Vancouver," said North American Aerospace Defense Command's Maj. Holly Apostoliuk.
Apostoliuk said the jets responded quickly from their base in Comox, British Columbia, once information on a potential threat was received.
They did not land with the airliner and returned to their base.
Security threat on flight into Vancouver - Airliner security- msnbc.com
VANCOUVER - Canadian fighter jets escorted a Cathay Pacific airliner incoming from Hong Kong to a safe landing in Vancouver International Airport on Saturday due to a potential security threat, a North American Aerospace Defense Command spokesperson said. The Canadian Press news agency cited Canadian Defense department officials as saying there was a bomb threat aboard Flight CX838, but they could not provide details.
Cathay Pacific Airways said in a statement that the issue was raised on the ground, not aboard the aircraft. It said the aircraft, an Airbus A340, carried 283 passengers and a crew of 14.
Television images showed the plane on an isolated stretch of tarmac, where it had been towed away from the main airport terminal.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the passengers were safely taken off the plane and no one was injured.
"They told us there was some sort of terrorist problem and the baggage would be held up," an unidentified male passenger told Canada's CTV News after disembarking the flight.
When asked if he was aware that the flight had been escorted by military jets into Vancouver, another male passenger said: "No, no idea. That's news to me."
Canadian F-18 Hornet fighter jets intercepted the plane and flew alongside it until it landed around 1:40 p.m. local time (4:40 p.m. Eastern time, 2040 GMT), drawing attention from people throughout Vancouver who heard the roar of the low-flying planes.
"As a precaution, NORAD fighters escorted the aircraft until it landed safely in Vancouver," said North American Aerospace Defense Command's Maj. Holly Apostoliuk.
Apostoliuk said the jets responded quickly from their base in Comox, British Columbia, once information on a potential threat was received.
They did not land with the airliner and returned to their base.
Security threat on flight into Vancouver - Airliner security- msnbc.com
