The North American Aerospace Defense Command scrambled fighter jets in response to a security incident involving planes heading for Montreal this week – apparently over what turned out to be one passenger’s ticket.
NORAD responded Wednesday to an “air security incident” involving two aircraft bound for Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport from overseas, a spokesperson told The Independent. The alert caused delays to domestic and international flights.
Le Journal de Quebec reports the incident may have been triggered after officials discovered a passenger who attempted to board a flight Wednesday already appeared to be on Air Canada flight AC833 from Brussels to Montreal.
It is believed the passenger on board flight AC833 could have stolen that individual’s Aeroplan points, the outlet reported, citing unnamed sources. Aeroplan is Air Canada’s rewards points program.
“The NORAD aircraft involved were three CF-18s, two F-16s and two KC-135s from the appropriate NORAD locations: all airborne on respective flight plans, in support of events,” the NORAD spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for Sûreté du Québec, the provincial police agency, told The Independent that officers arrested and interrogated two men once the flight had landed — one in his 20s and another in his 30s.
Both individuals have since been released, but the man in his 20s could face fraud-related charges, the spokesperson confirmed. The fraud investigation is related to how the individual’s ticket was purchased, according to the spokesperson.
The agency also did not confirm which airline had operated the flights involved.
The Sûreté du Québec spokesperson could not confirm or deny whether the alleged theft of Aeroplan points was involved, and said the agency is still investigating the incident. The spokesperson also said the suspect did not travel under a false identity.
A spokesperson for Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport also told The Independent that “standard security protocols” were activated Wednesday when a “suitcase of interest” was identified on a plane that had landed at the airport.
However, the investigation was “found to be unfounded,” and operations “returned to normal afterward,” the spokesperson added.
“One of the two runways had been closed to ensure the safety of the ongoing investigation, but the other runway remained operational,” the spokesperson said. “The situation caused some delays for both domestic and international flights.”
The Independent has contacted Air Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for comment.
