Flight to Ottawa cancelled after ‘security incident’ at Calgary airport

A WestJet flight destined for Ottawa never took off Wednesday. Passengers were about to board when police showed up because of a security threat.

Police are investigating a threat involving a WestJet flight at the Calgary International Airport that was destined for Ottawa.

WestJet confirmed flight WS610 was delayed due to a security concern that needed to be “fully investigated,” in an emailed statement.

WS610 to Ottawa was initially scheduled to depart from gate A22 at 10:45 a.m., according to the YYC departures list. The flight has since been cancelled.

RCMP is working with the Calgary Police Service regarding the threat. There was a large presence of police officers and vehicles seen at the airport around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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RCMP K9 units were also on the scene, coming in and out of the domestic terminal near the A gates.

In a statement, the Calgary Airport Authority confirmed an “ongoing security incident” at the airport.

“While the risk remains low, we are taking all necessary security precautions to ensure everyone’s safety,” the airport authority said.

The airport authority said the impacts to other passengers at YYC are low and no other flights have been delayed due to the incident.

In an updated statement Wednesday afternoon, the airport authority said the investigation is ongoing, but there is no active threat.

No further updates are expected at this time.

Passengers left waiting

Passengers were waiting at the gate before the RCMP came rushing in to investigate.

“Figured it was just an unruly passenger or something. And then, I just sat there waiting. Next thing you know, you see sniffer dogs inside the plane. They’re walking up the ramp into the cargo hold,” Josh Triemstra, a passenger on the flight, said.

Passengers, who never boarded the aircraft, were told they would have to leave the terminal and enter through security again.

“They said that there was some sort of security breach and that they needed us all to exit out through the gate and that we’d have to go through the whole process again,” Triemstra said.

Nicholas Mondoux was in Calgary for a ski trip and to visit family. He was headed home with his family, but now they have to find alternative travel plans.

“A little alarming,” Mondoux said. “I’ve never been on a flight before with officers, let alone, like, canines showing up.”

Passengers were told nearly four hours after their departure that their flight switched from delayed to cancelled just after 2 p.m.

Some passengers were rebooked on flights Wednesday evening, while others were slated to fly out Thursday morning.

RCMP have not said what alerted them to the threat or the nature of it.