Two US F16 fighter jets were scrambled to escort a Panama City-bound
flight from Canada back to Toronto on Friday after a man on the plane
apparently threatened to blow up the aircraft, authorities said.
Major Julie Roberge of North American Aerospace Defense Command
(NORAD) said the jets flew up to join Sunwing Airlines flight 772 as a
“precaution” less than an hour after it took off from Toronto’s Pearson
International Airport.
Video shot by a passenger showed armed Canadian law enforcement
officers shouting “heads down, hands up” as they stormed aboard the
aircraft in helmets and tactical gear after it was escorted back to
Toronto.
Local media said a 25-year-old Canadian man was arrested on suspicion
of threatening the aircraft.
Toronto’s City News quoted one passenger as saying the suspect became angry after learning that the duty-free items he wanted were not for sale.
Flight 772 had another diversion on Friday night after a passenger on board suffered a head injury after fainting.
The plane made an emergency landing in Montego Bay, Jamaica, landing about 6: 45 p.m. local time.
It departed for Panama at 8:05 p.m.
Toronto’s City News quoted one passenger as saying the suspect became angry after learning that the duty-free items he wanted were not for sale.
Flight 772 had another diversion on Friday night after a passenger on board suffered a head injury after fainting.
The plane made an emergency landing in Montego Bay, Jamaica, landing about 6: 45 p.m. local time.
It departed for Panama at 8:05 p.m.
Source: Reuters
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