Security alert delays flights at Winnipeg’s airport

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This article was published 05/06/2016 (3591 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Normal operations have resumed at Winnipeg’s airport after a potential security breach delayed flights Sunday evening.

All flights in and out of James Richardson International were on hold while airport staff investigated “a security incident related to baggage,” the airport communicated to passengers through its Twitter account Sunday evening. Shortly after 8:30 p.m. that airport operations were gradually resuming but did not release information on the cause of the alert.

During the alert, inbound and outbound flights remained on the tarmac. Inbound planes were not allowed to taxi up to the gate and passengers arriving in Winnipeg were not allowed to deplane.

Information was sketchy on what the baggage alert was about or what security officials were investigating.

The airport remained open during the alert.

Airport authority spokesman Michael Badejo said the alert went out at 4:30 p.m. and flights were immediately held up.

He couldn’t say whether Winnipeg police had been called upon to assist or if the investigation involved Canada Border Services officers in customs.

This is the second emergency this weekend at the airport. An Air China flight bound from Washington D.C. to Bejing was forced by engine trouble to make an emergency layover in Winnipeg Saturday night.

The nearly 300 passengers who ended up sleeping in local hotels overnight had just cleared check-in for their outbound flight when the alert was issued.

Badejo said he hadn’t heard what the alert was about or if it involved those passengers eager to get back in the air.

“I can’t comment on the investigation,” Badejo said.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca