CX838 receives jet fighter escort into YVR this afternoon

[st7860]

Flight receives military escort (http://www.vancouversun.com/Flight+receives+military+escort/3033623/story.html)
There are reports that a Cathay Pacific flight arriving in Vancouver today was escorted to YVR by jet fighters.
A Sun reader forwarded a photograph which appears to be a passenger plane being tailed closely by a jet fighter and there are news reports that police were dispatched to the airport.
A Canadian Forces spokesperson confirmed to CKNW News that there was a report of a threat to the aircraft, but would not specify what that threat was.
She added that Canadian CF 18 jet fighters, under the command of NORAD, intercepted the plane, identified by airport officials as Cathay Pacific flight 838, and escorted it until it landed safely in Vancouver.
CKNW reported that passengers are still on the plane, which has been towed to an area away from the terminal.

[stilton]

Brief blurb on CNN discussing a Cathay flight intercepted by Canadian F18's


Anyone with more information ?

[david.craig]

Sky news reporting 2 jets escorted it to a 'safe landing' and towed? to a secure part of the airport following a 'risk to flight safety'.

that is Sky news tho :oh:

[gwillie]

Fighter jets escort plane to Vancouver amid threat - CTV News (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100515/threat-plane-Vancouver-100515/20100515?hub=TopStoriesV2)

[vapilot2004]

One man who is waiting for his friends in the airport's arrivals area, told The Canadian Press that he was told by airport officials that it would be a long wait until the passengers were allowed off the plane.

"They are saying that they are checking every bag," said Kevin Yip.

Does this protocol seem odd to anyone else?

[billyt]

And what did the escorting achieve?

[Pugilistic Animus]

I hope the media does not go [or try to go] too deep into the 'procedures' there are other links on that media site...that when looked at maybe a little to close

And what did the escorting achieve?

the Canadian AIP and the FAA AIM allow any pilot to request an intercept and escort...that's published in the relevant air publications:)

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

"And what did the escorting achieve? "

Possible eye-witness and or camera evidence of any mid-air event (Explosion)which may have occurred within the aircraft..???

Pure speculation on my part, but its a reason??

[Rollingthunder]

And what did the escorting achieve

Very loud noises at low altitude over my place. s'ok, I like it.

[dicksorchard]

Canadian Forces fighter jets escorted an airliner to Vancouver International Airport on Saturday afternoon following a bomb threat, Defence Department officials said.
Two armed CF-18 Hornets escorted Cathay Pacific flight 838, bound for Vancouver from Hong Kong, to the airport in Richmond, B.C. It landed safely at about 1:30 p.m. PT.
Passengers immediately disembarked from the plane but were held in customs for more than two hours and had to leave without their baggage.
The RCMP later determined there was no threat but continued to investigate the incident.
"There was a bomb threat aboard an incoming flight from Hong Kong," said Jay Paxton, a spokesperson for Defence Minister Peter MacKay. "We scrambled two CF-18s, one Buffalo and one Cormorant out of [CFB] Comox. The CF-18s escorted the aircraft to Vancouver and it landed without incident."
They did not land with the aircraft and have since returned to their base.
Officials said the jets responded quickly from their base on Vancouver Island once information of the potential threat was received. The fighter jets are authorized to respond to security threats with measures including lethal force.
With files from The Canadian Press
Read more: CBC News - British Columbia - CF-18s respond to airline bomb threat (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/05/15/bc-plane-military-escort.html#ixzz0o3H0q800)

CBC News - British Columbia - CF-18s respond to airline bomb threat (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/05/15/bc-plane-military-escort.html)

[dicksorchard]

VANCOUVER — An airliner with a fighter jet escort landed safely at Vancouver International Airport on Saturday.
CONFLICTING REPORTS FROM WITHIN THE CANADIAN MEDIA ANYONE KNOW IF THE RCMP HAVE A BOMB SQUAD SECTION ?



Cathay Pacific flight 839 from Hong Kong, an Airbus A-340, was accompanied by two armed CF-18 Hornets, courtesy of the Department of National Defence.
The nature of the security threat that prompted the escort is unclear.
There are reports that Richmond Fire and an RCMP bomb squad have been called in but that has yet to be confirmed by either of those agencies.
Vancouver Province
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

Fighter jets escort Hong Kong flight to Vancouver airport (http://www.canada.com/news/national/Fighter+jets+escort+Hong+Kong+flight+Vancouver+airport/3033780/story.html)

[st7860]

937pm EDT

Canadian fighters scrambled after 'potential threat' on flight - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/05/15/canada.flight.threat/index.html?hpt=T1)
Two Canadian fighter jets on Saturday escorted a Cathay Pacific Airways flight into Vancouver International Airport in response to a bomb threat on the plane, authorities said.
"A security issue raised on the ground in Vancouver meant extra security for the aircraft inbound to the airport and upon arrival," Gus Whitcomb, a spokesman for Cathay Pacific, said in a statement. "We are not aware of any issues arising on board the aircraft itself."
The security issue was a bomb threat that had been called in at 10:43 a.m. (1:43 p.m. ET), Cpl. Sherrdean Turley of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told reporters outside the airport.
The plane landed safely at 1:35 p.m. (4:35 p.m. ET), said Alisa Gloag, a spokeswoman for the Vancouver Airport Authority.
Passengers were deplaned and the aircraft was towed to another area for further inspection, she said.
Turley said law enforcement authorities determined there was no threat aboard the aircraft.
An investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is under way, Turley said.

[Trim Stab]

Possible eye-witness and or camera evidence of any mid-air event (Explosion)which may have occurred within the aircraft..???

Apparently they were flying in very close formation (according to witness in BBC report). If there was a bomb on board, doesn't sound too clever...

I'm also intrigued to know why the military do this. I can't think of any plausible circumstance (except total comms and nav failure) that it is helpful - we generally have better navigation equipment, and better all-weather capability than they do. All they do is alarm passengers (and me!).

If they do need to intercept in order to take the extreme measure of shooting us down in case of hijack, then I'd prefer they kept out of sight!

[PPRuNeUser0198]

Here (http://www.youtube.com/user/delpillar#p/u/0/kje6jA02ksY) is a runway video of the aircraft in question with the 2 x F18 fighter escorts landing.

[atakacs]

I'm also intrigued to know why the military do this

Guess it gives them some distraction and PR. In practical terms I can't see what they could do if the bomb was for real.

[Dalex64]

Maybe having a visible escort acts as a deterrence factor if someone was up to no good.

[adamh10]

I'm also intrigued to know why the military do this

Guess it gives them some distraction and PR. In practical terms I can't see what they could do if the bomb was for real.


According to NORAD, the fighter pilots are to hoot the plane down if the cockpit is overtaken by terrorists and there is a threat to the plane being crashed into a public area.

[SoundBarrier]

Maybe having a visible escort acts as a deterrence factor if someone was up to no good.

A bit extreme for smoking in the toilet don't you think? :}

[Mad (Flt) Scientist]

Just to wind up the spotters, CBC decided to illustrate this story with a picture of what appeared to be a Rafale this evening. It was definitely a canard-delta. Which given Canada basically only has one fighter type is a bit careless...

[infrequentflyer789]

According to NORAD, the fighter pilots are to hoot the plane down

Amusing typos aside, the question was why fly in close formation next to a (possible) flying bomb. The answer has nothing to do with shooting down (and quite possibly more to do with PR and deterrence).

If they were actually ordered to shoot down, they could almost certainly do so without coming into visual range, let alone formation.

[Pugilistic Animus]

well maybe they were gonna Hoot it down...like Gibson:}

:ouch:

[Skyfan]

Quick question - what's with all the dodging and weaving from the fighter in that vid?