[Harvey Specter]

Scary stuff and a bit shocked that the threat was for a Cathay flight.

Fighter jets escort plane over 'potential threat'
[Update 8:28 p.m. ET] The plane, which was coming from Hong Kong, landed safely in Vancouver at 1:35 p.m. PT (4:35 p.m. ET), said Alisa Gloag, a spokeswoman for the Vancouver Airport Authority.

Passengers were deplaned and the aircraft was being towed to another area for inspection, said Gloag, who did not have information about how the threat was reported.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating, Gloag said.

[Posted 8:09 p.m. ET] Two CF-18 Hornets were scrambled from a military base in Winnipeg, Canada, Saturday to escort a Cathay Pacific Airways flight into Vancouver's airport, according to an official with the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The action was taken in response to a "potential threat" to the flight, Maj. Holly Apostoliuk of NORAD told CNN.

The plane was escorted to the airport and directed to a restricted area.

No further details were immediately available.

News1130 Staff May 15, 2010 14:50:39 PM
Be the first to Comment 34 Recommendation(s) RICHMOND (NEWS1130) - Details are still coming in, but an airplane which was being accompanied by two Canadian Forces fighter jets has landed safely and is now being assessed at Vancouver International Airport after a bomb threat.

Cathay Pacific flight number 839 arriving from Hong Kong, was escorted by two CF 18 Hornet fighter jets. Our newsroom began receiving calls from people across Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland around 1 p.m. Richmond RCMP has confirmed there was a security threat on the flight which prompted the escort. Keep it on News1130 for the latest

[t8v6]

wow, just got off a cathay pacific flight from hk a few days ago O.o, wonder what happened

[nipples]

Man!!! What has hk or van done to them?? I was positive that that was one route that'd be safe!!
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[S60R]

no kidding, its not like a flight from China to the USA.

[El Bastardo]

*sigh* If theres ever a terrorist attack in Canada I fear it'll be here in the lower mainland. :(

[tofu1413]

all the way from winnipeg. seriously? .......

i thought we have F18's in BC...

saw one of them fly by when i was eating mcd's on marine and oak.. it was a twin seater hornet.

[El Bastardo]

CBC News just reported that it was determined there was no threat on board but the investigation continues.

[CP.AR]

only place in Canada that has CF-18s = CFB Cold Lake, Alberta

[E-40six]

Oooh so thats why there were F18's flying over head today on Mitchell Island.

I was wondering what they were doing here when they were flying across the island

[1exotic]

.

[lilkulit]

So that's why there was two fighter plane that took off around around 2pm today. i was cleaning my car and heard something coming from the airport, thought its those plane that spraying stuff over van, but ended up a way better looking plane. man those were f-ing loud!

[JesseBlue]

1exotic...not nice
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[Harvey Specter]

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100516/capt.5e61d4cfb09a423a8553e049de5e9cd9-5e61d4cfb09a423a8553e049de5e9cd9-0.jpg?x=400&y=269&q=85&sig=ZLLF5JDw1Uc8bggL2CJu5A--

By JEREMY HAINSWORTH, Associated Press Writer Jeremy Hainsworth, Associated Press Writer – 7 mins ago
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Canadian fighter jets escorted a Cathay Pacific airliner coming from Hong Kong to a safe landing in Vancouver International Airport on Saturday following a bomb threat, officials said.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police said that passengers had been safely taken off the plane and that nothing of concern had been found in the baggage.

"This is incident is being taken very seriously," Cpl. Sherrdean Turley, adding the threat regarding Flight CX838 was called in to police at about 10:45 a.m. local time (1745 GMT).

Canadian F-18 Hornet fighter jets intercepted the Airbus 8340 with 283 passengers and 14 crew members aboard and flew alongside it until it landed around 1:40 p.m. local time (4:40 p.m. Eastern time, 2040 GMT).

"As a precaution, NORAD fighters escorted the aircraft until it landed safely in Vancouver," said North American Aerospace Defense Command's Maj. Holly Apostoliuk.

Passengers told CTV News they were not informed of any problems during the flight.

One passenger told CTV News the fighters appeared about 80 miles (128.74 kilometers) from Vancouver.

"I was scared," he said. "He was near to our plane, very near to our plane."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Av4Y0zP5E

[twitchyzero]

i never understood the objective behind fighter jets escorting commercial airliners when there's a bomb threat...unless it's beinghijacked to be used to crash an important landmark.

Is it going to stop the bomb threat within the Airbus?

[quasi]

i never understood the objective behind fighter jets escorting commercial airliners when there's a bomb threat...unless it's beinghijacked to be used to crash an important landmark.

Is it going to stop the bomb threat within the Airbus?


It's to stop things like 911. Obviously it's absolutely the last resort but if the plane was on a collision course with a place with a big population they want to have the option of taking it down if they need to. It's just a better safe then sorry fail safe.

[noventa]

^they just want to shoot it down is all if they have to.

[StylinRed]

did some c-lai threaten a stewardess' life for not fluffing her pillow?

or was a Sikhs disrespectful daughter on board with her non-sikh boyfriend? and her family was plotting to cleanse her



It's to stop things like 911. Obviously it's absolutely the last resort but if the plane was on a collision course with a place with a big population they want to have the option of taking it down if they need to. It's just a better safe then sorry fail safe.

^they just want to shoot it down is all if they have to.

you guys need to re-read twitchy's post if its a bomb THREAT and NOT being Hijacked (as in the threat came from outside of the plane and not someone on board)

[double0seven]

Freaking scary stuff. I thought I heard fighter jets over my house in Richmond. Would have been brutal if it blew up over vancouver/richmond area.

[El Bastardo]

did some c-lai threaten a stewardess' life for not fluffing her pillow?




Diu yu know who I am? Diu yu know what color my license plate is?

[Gumby]

Why did they scramble jets from Winnipeg? Aren't there any CF18s based in BC?

[Meowjin]

There are only reserve bases in bc
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[El Bastardo]

CFB Comox

[JD¹³]

only place in Canada that has CF-18s = CFB Cold Lake, Alberta
Wrong. 2 major bases, CFB Cold Lake and CFB Bagotville (Quebec).

Rotations from Cold Lake occur from 4 Wing to CFB Comox, British Columbia and from 3 Wing Bagotville to CFB Goose Bay and CFB Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia, and various forward operating bases in the Canadian Arctic. There are normally a few aircraft at CFB Trenton as well, though not a permanent squadron. - Taken from Wikipedia but generally correct information.

Not sure why they would have come from Winnipeg. There's a big Air Force contingent there though no permanently based fighters. Given that one of the aircraft was apparently a 2-seater (trainer) I'm thinking maybe there's an error in the reporting because they almost certainly came from Cold Lake or Comox. The trainer may have had someone in the back photographing / documenting the situation?

EDIT - They came out of Comox:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/05/15/bc-plane-military-escort.html

The RCMP has determined there was no actual threat on board a Cathay Pacific passenger plane that had to be escorted to Vancouver International Airport by two Canadian Forces fighter jets.

Two armed CF-18 Hornets escorted Cathay Pacific flight 838, bound for Vancouver from Hong Kong, to the airport in Richmond, B.C., after RCMP officials learned of a bomb threat. The plane landed safely at about 1:35 p.m. PT.

"The threat is being taken very seriously and I'd just like to assure the travelling public that there is no threat to them at this time," RCMP Cpl. Sherrdean Turley told reporters.

Passengers immediately disembarked from the plane but were held in customs for more than two hours and had to leave without their baggage. There were 283 passengers and 14 crew on board.

Turley said the RCMP's Richmond detachment received a call shortly before 11 a.m. PT that there was a bomb on the plane.

"All necessary screening procedures were carried out and nothing of concern was identified," she said, adding that no one was injured in the incident.

Turley said she could not discuss whether any group had taken responsibility for the threat and said the investigation into the incident was still underway.

Earlier, Jay Paxton, a spokesperson for Defence Minister Peter MacKay had confirmed there was "a bomb threat aboard an incoming flight from Hong Kong.

"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.

[JSALES]

scary shit

[hal0g0dv2]

that is no good

[belka]

Why did they scramble jets from Winnipeg? Aren't there any CF18s based in BC?

They weren't from Winnipeg. There are no permanent CF-18 bases in BC because of the tree hugging population on the island. There once was a fighter squadron in CFB Comox back during the cold war but has since been removed and reloated to Cold Lake

Wrong. 2 major bases, CFB Cold Lake and CFB Bagotville (Quebec).

Given that one of the aircraft was apparently a 2-seater (trainer) I'm thinking maybe there's an error in the reporting because they almost certainly came from Cold Lake. The trainer may have had someone in the back photographing / documenting the situation?

They don't use two-seaters for these types of situations. All of the duals are primarily allocated to 410 Squadron for training.

[turb0fr3ak]

scary shit

X2
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[Gumby]

So there happened to be CF18s in Comox, and that's where this pair came from. The only base in Canada that permanently houses these aircraft is Cold Lake, Alberta?

[JD¹³]

They don't use two-seaters for these types of situations. All of the duals are primarily allocated to 410 Squadron for training.
I didn't think so either but someone said they saw a 2-seater hence my comment :thumbsup:

[ASG111]

http://www.dump.com/wp-content/uploads/DO-NOT-PASTE-THIS-URL-ON-ANY-FORUM-BLOG-OR-WEBSITE--LINK-WILL-CEASE-TO-BE-FUNCTIONAL-SHORTLY--PLEASE-LINK-ONLY-TO-URLS-CONTAINED-IN-THE-ADDRESS-BAR--CODE-48918279417/chucknorris.gif

[orange7]

2012

[EmperorIS]

GOD DAMN SKYTRAIN!!!!!

[tofu1413]

i saw the actual plane..

had the bigger / longer canopy on it, with two bone dome helmets inside.

it was a two seater.

[Shun Izaki]

Wrong. 2 major bases, CFB Cold Lake and CFB Bagotville (Quebec).

Rotations from Cold Lake occur from 4 Wing to CFB Comox, British Columbia and from 3 Wing Bagotville to CFB Goose Bay and CFB Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia, and various forward operating bases in the Canadian Arctic. There are normally a few aircraft at CFB Trenton as well, though not a permanent squadron. - Taken from Wikipedia but generally correct information.

Not sure why they would have come from Winnipeg. There's a big Air Force contingent there though no permanently based fighters. Given that one of the aircraft was apparently a 2-seater (trainer) I'm thinking maybe there's an error in the reporting because they almost certainly came from Cold Lake or Comox. The trainer may have had someone in the back photographing / documenting the situation?

EDIT - They came out of Comox:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/05/15/bc-plane-military-escort.html

i swear i read fagotville quebec. hahahahahaha

i saw the actual plane..

had the bigger / longer canopy on it, with two bone dome helmets inside.

it was a two seater.

is this what you do when your starter motor dies? you just look at planes all day?



on another note, does cathay still only have 838/888 flying between? from what i last remember it was just the two, but multiple trips.

[Si]

So there happened to be CF18s in Comox, and that's where this pair came from. The only base in Canada that permanently houses these aircraft is Cold Lake, Alberta?

No; There are 2-4 Hornets regularly stationed in Comox on rotation from 4 Wing for a quick response to Pacific threats.

Squadrons that have Hornets are located in 4 Wing Cold Lake (Alberta) and 3 Wing Bagotville (Quebec).

[LiquidTurbo]

2012

Next 2012 reference needs to be banned..

[El Bastardo]

I know what that city in Quebec is called but I swear Comox is the real Faggotville

[belka]

No; There are 2-4 Hornets regularly stationed in Comox on rotation from 4 Wing for a quick response to Pacific threats.

Not regularly, but during certain times of the year. :thumbsup:

[Si]

Not regularly, but during certain times of the year. :thumbsup:

Regularly doesn't mean all the time. ;)

[dnnk]

thats hella scary. Think my friend was on that plane.

[S60R]

thats hella scary. Think my friend was on that plane.

why dont u call him and ask?:\

[Hehe]

I thought they wouldn't send out 2 fighter jets from Winnipeg.

F/A-18 has a range around 2400KM. If they were dispatching them from Winnipeg and pushing some speed, they wouldn't have much time left on the air after reaching to Van. (18xxKM)

[asian_XL]

escort = ready to shoot the civilian plane down.

^ according to specialist says

[impactX]

^

Pretty much. They even said it here:

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.

[GabAlmighty]

Hahah, my friend's being shipped to HK to go to his 2nd interview to hopefully be accepted into their flight/cadet program.

[Gumby]

Why do the fighter jets fly beside the plane? Do they want to have their presence known to the passengers on board? Scare a would-be terrorist into action?

[nammerstar]

damn imagine if they had to shoot it down, i dont think i could ever be a soldier. one trigger and you kill over 200 innocent lives. humm

[Hehe]

damn imagine if they had to shoot it down, i dont think i could ever be a soldier. one trigger and you kill over 200 innocent lives. humm

If it's a serious threat, it's an easy decision, kill 200 now or let thousands to die later.

I'd think as I saved thousands of lives rather than killing 200 innocent ppl.

[keitaro]

Why do the fighter jets fly beside the plane? Do they want to have their presence known to the passengers on board? Scare a would-be terrorist into action?

The fighter pilots want to see into the cockpit. To see who is in control of the aircraft. It is also a show of force saying "hey bad guys, we are loaded up ready to shoot you down if you don't follow our orders". They are probably also providing NORAD or whomever is give orders, an actual situation analysis of what is going on, and what they can see.

[belka]

damn imagine if they had to shoot it down, i dont think i could ever be a soldier. one trigger and you kill over 200 innocent lives. humm

That is why the fighter pilots get paid 6 figures, to execute the tough decisions.

[Si]

That is why the fighter pilots get paid 6 figures, to execute the tough decisions.

The order to fire comes from NORAD, if that is who dispatched them. It doesn't go like: "Nightmare 001 cleared for take-off, shoot at your will, let us know how it goes when you get back -- we'll be taking a nap here on the ground."

[S60R]

Hahah, my friend's being shipped to HK to go to his 2nd interview to hopefully be accepted into their flight/cadet program.

my friend just did that with cathay and he failed last month.

[belka]

The order to fire comes from NORAD, if that is who dispatched them. It doesn't go like: "Nightmare 001 cleared for take-off, shoot at your will, let us know how it goes when you get back -- we'll be taking a nap here on the ground."

No shit the order comes from NORAD. :rolleyes: It's the pilots who EXECUTE the command and who have to push the fire button, not NORAD.

[PiuYi]

my friend just did that with cathay and he failed last month.

any idea on what they look for specifically? ive been thinking about that too

[metal]

I hear that Cathay is pretty lame to work for. I mean, its a great company, but the people (at least flight crew wise) are elitest snobs. At least thats what I gather from employees posting on PPRuNe.

[JD¹³]

I hear that Cathay is pretty lame to work for. I mean, its a great company, but the people (at least flight crew wise) are elitest snobs. At least thats what I gather from employees posting on PPRuNe.
My dad flew for them for 15 years, was forced to retire as a training captain last year when he turned 55. Great people work for the airline, lots of ex-pats, and I always found both the air and ground crews to be very nice and accommodating.

The elitist snobs are the upper management. I've heard so many stories and heard of a lot of ridiculous firings, the most famous being the 49'ers. That being said they are one of the the nicest airlines in the world to fly with.

[Harvey Specter]

My cousin is a pilot for Singapore Airlines. He said it's a great airline to work for.