Fighter jet to intercept civilian plane over B.C. as part of Norad exercise

The Department of National Defence says the exercise on will involve a CF-18 Hornet and an American KC-135 aerial refuelling tanker. (Handout)

A Canadian fighter jet will intercept and escort a civilian aircraft over southwestern British Columbia this week as part of a North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) training exercise.

The Department of National Defence says the exercise on Wednesday will involve a CF-18 Hornet and an American KC-135 aerial refuelling tanker.

The fighter will intercept a civilian De Havilland Twin Otter that is “simulating a threat” and escort it from Comox to Vancouver’s harbour, the department said in a news release.

Members of the public may see or hear the military jet and the civilian plane flying in close formation for the duration of the exercise.

“Live-fly exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled in accordance with standard safety procedures to ensure public safety and are dependent upon weather and flying conditions,” the department said.

The exercise comes less than a year after Norad scrambled fighter jets to Vancouver in response to a hijacking incident that began in Victoria and ended at Vancouver’s airport.

• Read more: U.S. fighter jets scrambled to Vancouver airport during alleged hijacking

American F-15 Eagle jets were launched from a Washington state military base to intercept a Cessna plane that was stolen from Victoria’s airport by a man who had claimed on social media that he was a messenger sent to save humanity from climate change.

Shaheer Cassim pleaded guilty in April to charges of hijacking an aircraft and interfering with the operation of an airport, offences that the Public Prosecution Services of Canada said “constitute terrorist activities” under the Criminal Code.

• Read more: ‘I’m really sorry’: B.C. hijacker speaks to CTV News from jail

National Defence did not immediately respond to a request for more information about the Norad training scenario. This story will be updated if and when a response is received.