Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Humanitarian claim blamed for Russian flight

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Mar, 2022 12:49 PM
  • Humanitarian claim blamed for Russian flight

OTTAWA - A senior official at Transport Canada is accusing a Russian airliner of having falsely claimed to be a humanitarian flight to circumvent a ban and enter Canadian airspace last month.

Aeroflot Flight 111 entered Canadian airspace on Feb. 27 after the federal government had banned all Russian aircraft earlier that day in retaliation for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The House of Commons transport committee heard today the aircraft was registered as being on a humanitarian flight before taking off from Miami.

Such flights at the time were not covered by the Canadian ban and officials say that is why it was allowed to continue on its way to Moscow.

Nicholas Robinson, Transport Canada's head of civil aviation, says while his department is continuing its investigation, he is "disappointed" that the Russian flight appears to have used the humanitarian designation to circumvent Canada's flight ban.

Nav Canada vice-president Ben Girard says the rules around the airspace ban imposed by Canada on Russia has since been tightened to prevent similar incidents.

MORE National ARTICLES

MPs told of confusion from crackdown on convoy

MPs told of confusion from crackdown on convoy
The government's use of the emergency powers in February included allowing financial institutions to freeze the accounts of those involved in the protests that occupied streets in downtown Ottawa and blocked key border crossings.    

MPs told of confusion from crackdown on convoy

Canada working on national flood insurance program

Canada working on national flood insurance program
On Monday, federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair finished a tour of B.C. communities that experienced devastating floods last November, including Abbotsford and Merritt, where some people still have not been able to move home.

Canada working on national flood insurance program

240 COVID19 cases for Thursday

240 COVID19 cases for Thursday
There are 298 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 49 are in intensive care. In the past 24 hours, seven new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,960.

240 COVID19 cases for Thursday

B.C. government outlines funds for homelessness

B.C. government outlines funds for homelessness
Several cabinet ministers gathered for a news conference to share details of $633 million first announced in Budget 2022 for supports over three years for people experiencing homelessness.

B.C. government outlines funds for homelessness

Charges approved after women allegedly sexually assaulted during treatments at Burnaby skincare clinic

Charges approved after women allegedly sexually assaulted during treatments at Burnaby skincare clinic
An investigation was launched in 2019 after a victim reported to police that she was sexually assaulted during treatment at a business operating as Fab Skin Care at 5481 Kingsway in Burnaby.    

Charges approved after women allegedly sexually assaulted during treatments at Burnaby skincare clinic

Three People Charged for Keeping an Illegal Gaming House

Three People Charged for Keeping an Illegal Gaming House
Evidence gathered indicated that the Vancouver residence was being rented for the purpose of setting up and operating an alleged illegal gaming establishment.

Three People Charged for Keeping an Illegal Gaming House