No explosives were found aboard two separate Air France planes that were diverted to Halifax and Salt Lake City due to bomb threats, according to the airline.
Authorities in both cities thoroughly inspected both aircraft, passengers and their luggage, and nothing was found, according to an Air France release.
The airline said the bomb threat that led to the diversion of Flight AF55 to Halifax Stanfield International Airport was a “false alert.”
The bomb threats were received by telephone shortly after AF55 left Washington, D.C., for Paris on Tuesday.
An investigation is underway to determine the source of that phone call, Air France says.
As well, the airline says:
– Passengers grounded in Halifax will be put on Flight AF4093 at 7 p.m. today, scheduled to arrive at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris at 6 a.m. local time Thursday.
– Passengers aboard the the plane that was diverted to Salt Lake City are already en route to France.
The company says the passengers in Halifax are being accommodated.
Two hundred and sixty-two passengers and crew were aboard the Boeing 777 when it landed in Halifax around 10 p.m. Tuesday night.
RCMP searched the plane using police dogs trained in explosives. Shortly after 3 a.m., no explosives were found in a search of the plane and luggage. The plane was released from police custody.
It took an hour and 15 minutes to remove passengers by buses provided by Halifax Transit.
The main runway at Halifax’s airport was reopened at 4 a.m. Wednesday and the plane has been moved to a gate.
Peter Spurway, a spokesman for Halifax Stanfield airport, had said the passengers and crew exited the plane and were taken to “a secure area in the airport terminal.”
All were interviewed by RCMP.
Spurway said the airport was trying to make passengers as comfortable as possible. Air Canada, on behalf of Air France, helped find accommodations overnight for the passengers and crew.
Spurway said the Halifax airport is prepared to deal with diversions, adding it had already handled three or four diverted flights this month.
CBC News
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– AF65: F-HPJD (Diverted to SLC)
– AF55: F-GZNB (Diverted to YHZ)
Two Air France flights divert because of bomb threats
