Most passengers from diverted plane now on way to Toronto

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/06/2015 (3777 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Passengers from a WestJet plane diverted to Winnipeg on Monday night due to "a threat" spent the night in a hotel and caught an early morning flight to Toronto today.

Emergency crews were on scene after the plane carrying 54 passengers and five crew members from Edmonton to Toronto was forced to land at the Richardson International Airport after 9 p.m.

All those aboard were evacuated, although six people were slightly injured during the evacuation and three had to be treated in hospital before going to a hotel.

Today, the RCMP said investigators continue to probe the nature of the threat, but that no other information will be released at this time.

Officers with the explosives canine unit were part of the investigative team and all passengers were interviewed and the plane and all baggage were cleared late Monday night, RCMP said.

As a result of the incident, the Winnipeg airport was closed, causing a Winnipeg-bound WestJet flight, also from Edmonton, to be diverted to Brandon.

This latest scare comes just days after a WestJet flight carrying 147 passengers and six crew members were diverted in Saskatoon following a bomb threat.

That flight was bound to Edmonton from Halifax.

Police said a call had been made claiming an explosive device was on board but the report turned out to be false.

Last Thursday, St. John’s International Airport was temporarily closed because of a bomb threat on an Air Canada flight.

The airport authority said it took the action after Air Canada Flight 143 departing from St. John’s to Ottawa was notified about a possible bomb on board at about 6:50 p.m. as the aircraft was pulling back from the gate.

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary spokesman Steve Curnew told reporters early Friday that the flight was about to leave when a note identified as a possible bomb threat was found in one of the plane’s washrooms.

Nothing suspicious was found in a search of the plane.

— with files from The Canadian Press

WestJet flight 442 from Edmonton was diverted to Richardson International Airport. FLIGHTAWARE.COM

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WestJet flight 304 from Edmonton was diverted to Brandon Municipal Airport as a result of the threat in Winnipeg. FLIGHTAWARE.COM

Statement from Richardson International Airport:

(12:34 a.m. Tuesday) Response to the diversion of WestJet 442 (Edmonton to Toronto) on June 29, 2015 is now concluded.

Winnipeg Airports Authority and emergency response personnel responded to a possible threat with respect to WestJet 442 (Edmonton to Toronto) that was diverted to Winnipeg Richardson International Airport and landed at approximately 8:40pm on June 29, 2015. Passengers and crew were evacuated from the plane and taken to the airport terminal via City of Winnipeg transit buses.

WestJet advises that their guests are being sent to local hotels and will be re-accommodated on WestJet flights to Toronto in the morning with all guests arriving by 2 p.m. EDT. tomorrow (Tuesday).

We thank all emergency responders and local authorities for their efforts during this diversion.

Airport operations have resumed; however, we encourage travellers to check with their airlines for updated flight schedules or at www.waa.ca