Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Threat That Diverted Air France Flight To Montreal Declared False Alarm

The Canadian Press, 08 Dec, 2015 12:10 PM
    PARIS — An Air France flight from San Francisco to Paris was diverted to Montreal after an unspecified anonymous threat, and the passengers landed and disembarked safely before authorities declared it a false alarm.
     
    At least 15 fire trucks and police cars met Flight 83 at Montreal's Trudeau International Airport late Monday, where authorities verified the aircraft, passengers and baggage.
     
    Air France tweeted Tuesday: "after a full security search, false alert confirmed by local authorities following an anonymous threat."
     
    Earlier, the airline had said the crew decided to divert "as a precautionary measure."
     
    Air France said an investigation will be carried out into the origin of the threat, and promised to send passengers safely to their destinations.
     
    Spokeswoman Ulli Gendrot said all passengers were safely off the plane. She would not elaborate on the nature of the threat.
     
    Airlines around the world face sporadic threats and occasionally divert planes as a result.
     
    Tensions are unusually high in France, which has been in a state of emergency since Islamic extremist suicide bombings and shootings in Paris on Nov. 13 that killed 130 people, the deadliest attacks on French soil in decades.
     
    Passenger Gilles Raymond of San Francisco said after about five hours in the air, the pilot made an announcement that they needed to land in Montreal for technical reasons. He said once the plane had landed, the pilot said authorities would have to do a thorough security check of the plane and passengers and that everyone would have to disembark.
     
    "Everyone is pretty relaxed," Raymond said while still inside. "There was no panic, no stress. Everyone is waiting in their seats. Some people are sleeping, and some are checking their phones or eating ice cream that the flight attendants gave them."
     
    He said passengers spent at least an hour on board the plane during verifications.
     
    "They told us they will check every passenger and that we may spend the night here," Raymond said.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Governor General David Johnston Calls Arrival Of Syrian Refugees A 'Defining Moment' For Canada

    Governor General David Johnston Calls Arrival Of Syrian Refugees A 'Defining Moment' For Canada
    OTTAWA — Gov. Gen. David Johnston issued a rallying cry Tuesday for Canadians to welcome refugees who are fleeing the conflict in Syria, calling Canada's response to the crisis a "defining moment" for the country.

    Governor General David Johnston Calls Arrival Of Syrian Refugees A 'Defining Moment' For Canada

    Federal Shortfalls On Track To Be $10.8 Billion Bigger Than Forecasts: Watchdog

    Federal Shortfalls On Track To Be $10.8 Billion Bigger Than Forecasts: Watchdog
    The government is on track to deliver annual shortfalls that will be as much as $10.8 billion higher than expected, the parliamentary budget office said Tuesday.

    Federal Shortfalls On Track To Be $10.8 Billion Bigger Than Forecasts: Watchdog

    Canada Rebounds With 2.3 Per Cent Quarterly GDP Growth, But Weakness Persists

    OTTAWA — Canada has climbed out of the recession that nudged the economy into reverse over the first half of 2015 — but a rebound in growth during the third quarter has already shown signs of lost momentum.

    Canada Rebounds With 2.3 Per Cent Quarterly GDP Growth, But Weakness Persists

    India's 'Real Dirt' Lies In Minds, Needs A Clean-up: President Pranab Mukherjee

    President Pranab Mukherjee here on Tuesday exhorted people to go strongly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Mission but ensure the society was first cleansed from within as evinced by Mahatma Gandhi through his life.

    India's 'Real Dirt' Lies In Minds, Needs A Clean-up: President Pranab Mukherjee

    Mayor Calls Mount Polley Permit Early Christmas Present For Cariboo Miners

    VICTORIA — The British Columbia government has approved a permit allowing water discharge from a mine that was the centre of an environmental disaster, and the decision has drawn cheers from the area's mayor.

    Mayor Calls Mount Polley Permit Early Christmas Present For Cariboo Miners

    Opposition To Alberta Government's Farm Safety Bill Continues To Grow

    Opposition To Alberta Government's Farm Safety Bill Continues To Grow
    Bill 6 would make Workers' Compensation Board coverage mandatory for farm workers and would cancel the agriculture sector's exemption from occupational health and safety rules.

    Opposition To Alberta Government's Farm Safety Bill Continues To Grow