Here’s why a USAF plane was flying over Ottawa on Tuesday

A NATO AWACS plane takes off the NATO Airbase in Geilenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, March 12, 2014. A similar USAF plane was spotted over Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. Officials say it was taking part in a training mission.

A Royal Canadian Air Force pilot was part of a training mission involving an American radar plane that flew over the Ottawa area this week.

The airborne warning and control system (AWACS) plane was spotted flying over Ottawa Tuesday afternoon. Flight radar websites identified it as a United States Air Force (USAF) jet.

AWACS planes are notable for the large disk positioned on top near the tail. The sight of an American military plane over Canada’s capital caught attention on social media, with some wondering how or why a U.S. plane ended up in the capital’s airspace.

A spokesperson for U.S. Air Combat Command says this was part of a training exercise in which a Canadian pilot took part.

“Air Combat Command recently conducted an E-3G long format training sortie, beginning in Bangor, Maine, and flying in the Ottawa area, Sept. 16. These types of sorties help aircrews maintain proficiency, as well as allow crewmembers to practice at different airfields,” a statement said. “Additionally, a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force served as a co-manner pilot on board with the training crew.”

The Canadian Department of National Defence says American military planes have authorization to fly in Canada for training purposes and vice versa.

“Military aircraft from both Canada and the United States have standing authorization to transit through, operate and train in each other’s airspace. Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft routinely travel through, train and operate in various locations in the United States for a variety of reasons,” the government said.

The plane did a loop around Ottawa Tuesday afternoon before flying toward Kingston and passing back into the United States.

USAF officials would not say when another training mission might take place, due to operational security reasons.

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