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Fighter jets escort Hong Kong flight to Vancouver after bomb threat

A Cathay Pacific Airbus passenger jet sits on the tarmac at Richmond, BC's YVR airport after it was escorted by two Canadian CF-18 fighter jets May 15.
Photograph by: Jason Payne, PNG

A Cathay Pacific Airbus from Hong Kong was escorted by two CF18 Hornet fighter jets to Vancouver International Airport after a bomb threat Saturday.

North American Aerospace Defence Command officials sent the fighter jets to intercept a Vancouver-bound Cathay Pacific flight Saturday afternoon after receiving reports of a security threat involving the plane.

Major Holly Apostoliuk, with the Canadian NORAD Region headquarters, said the two jets were scrambled under NORAD command from a forward operating base at Canadian Forces Base Comox [the Hornets are based at CFB Cold Lake, temporarily at Comox, three photos here] as a precaution.

"In this case only as a precaution did we intercept and escort the aircraft until it landed safely," Apostoliuk said.

Alisa Cooper, spokeswoman for Vancouver International Airport, said RCMP confirmed it was a bomb threat after the passengers had safely disembarked from the plane. Cooper said no one was injured and RCMP deemed the aircraft to be safe...

More photos,

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A CF18 Hornet fighter jet, acting under the North American Aerospace Defence Command, intercept a Cathay Pacific passenger plane headed for Vancouver on Saturday May 15, 2010. (Patrick Beaton / THE CANADIAN PRESS)...

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