Posted on 10/23/2003 12:43:26 PM PDT by IvanT
HAMILTON, ONT. - An Israeli airliner made an emergency landing Thursday in Hamilton, where it was met by tactical police teams.
The El Al jet was diverted to Hamilton airport because of undisclosed threats to the plane and to Pearson airport in Toronto, where it had been scheduled to land.
Officials at John C. Munro airport said the plane was initially diverted to Montreal. After touching down there, the plane continued to Hamilton so passengers headed for Toronto could complete their trip by bus.
The plane was scheduled to take on passengers in Toronto before leaving for Los Angeles. Passengers booked on the Los Angeles leg of the flight were taken to Hamilton airport by bus.
An airport spokesman said all he knew was that the threat came while the plane was in flight from Tel Aviv.
"Sometime in flight, a threat was received that was specific to the Toronto airport and this aircraft," said Ken Mitchell.
"We don't know the nature of the threat and we don't know who received it and we don't know how the threat was transmitted."
Aside from the heavy police presence, operations at the airport continued uninterrupted.
Don't tell the Libs up here about this, according to them, we aren't a target.
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