Canadian airports returning to normal operations after early morning bomb threats

Canadian airports are returning to normal operations, according to the Canadian Press, as air traffic control company Nav Canada said some airports in the country received bomb threats Thursday morning.

The threats affected airports in Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver, according to Nav Canada.

In a statement, FAA spokesman Kevin Morris said the threats led to “temporary ground closures” at Montreal and Ottawa airports, which were lifted at around 7:40 a.m.

Nav Canada said in a social media post that services were gradually resuming after “some of our facilities were evacuated” and security checks were conducted by authorities.

“We appreciate the patience of airlines and passengers during this situation,” the statement said.

Transport Canada spokesman Hitcham Ewen said the agency is working with airport officials, Nav Canada and local law enforcement to fully assess the situation.
“As a result of this morning’s events, some flights may continue to be delayed in the coming hours,” he added in a statement.

The Ottawa airport also told passengers shortly after 10 a.m. that it was returning to normal.

The airport had earlier said on Thursday that it was investigating a “security incident” and that there was a possibility of flight disruptions. A number of flights were delayed, according to the airport’s website.

An Ottawa airport spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing with the city’s police and that the incident had only a “minor impact” on airport operations.

Austin De Sainte-Croix, a passenger at the Ottawa airport, said he was scheduled to fly to Vancouver on Thursday morning but his flight was suddenly canceled.

“When I went to get my boarding pass and went to the security gate, they told me my flight was canceled and they didn’t give me any information,” he said.

Lauren Sandholen, another passenger in Ottawa who was planning to fly to Halifax, said, “We just sat there and listened to the announcements until they canceled the flight.”

Vancouver Airport said in a statement that it was aware of “a security concern” related to Nav Canada operations and other airports, but that flights were currently operating as scheduled.

“Safety and security are always our top priority and thorough threat assessments have been conducted,” the statement said on social media.

Travelers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

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