Close X
Sunday, November 24, 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

235 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

235 COVID19 cases for Wednesday
There are 329 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 51 are in intensive care. In the past 24 hours, eight new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,953.

235 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

B.C. to review its COVID-19 pandemic response

B.C. to review its COVID-19 pandemic response
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has appointed a three-person team including two former deputy ministers and a public policy consultant to do the review.

B.C. to review its COVID-19 pandemic response

Amnesty on 'assault-style' firearms extended

Amnesty on 'assault-style' firearms extended
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in May 2020 he was banning more than 1,500 models of firearms, including the AR-15. He also announced owners of these guns would have a two-year amnesty period to come into compliance with the prohibition.

Amnesty on 'assault-style' firearms extended

Feds to drop COVID tests for vaccinated travellers

Feds to drop COVID tests for vaccinated travellers
In February, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced travellers coming to Canada would be able to present a negative rapid-antigen test at the border as an alternative to a more costly and time-consuming molecular test.

Feds to drop COVID tests for vaccinated travellers

One person injured in targeted shooting at a residence in Guildford

One person injured in targeted shooting at a residence in Guildford
The Surrey RCMP General Investigation Unit has taken conduct of the investigation. The investigation is in the early stages, but all indications are that it was targeted. The shooting does not appear to be linked to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.    

One person injured in targeted shooting at a residence in Guildford

Porch theft led to the arrest of three youths

Porch theft led to the arrest of three youths
On March 4, 2022, Surrey RCMP received a report of a theft of package from a residence located in 8600-block of 156 Street. Police attended and learned that a package containing items such as designer jackets, shoes, sunglasses and t-shirts was stolen.

Porch theft led to the arrest of three youths