OTTAWA - Police have detained a passenger for questioning after authorities shut down the Ottawa International Airport Wednesday morning to investigate a suspicious package.
Airport officials said the package was found at 8:30 a.m. in some checked baggage during screening. They wouldn't say what was in it, just that it warranted a wide-scale evacuation.
Flights were grounded, and some planes were cleared after passengers had already boarded.
Officials escorted between 400 and 500 passengers and staff from the recently opened terminal building.
Planes that had recently landed were being kept away from the building.
After investigation, the all-clear was given at 12:30 p.m., and officials expected to allow passengers and staff back into the new terminal building at 1 p.m.
The airport authority said this is the first total evacuation of the airport.
Awschucksflyer From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 150 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1367 times:
I drove by the airport to see if I could see what was going on. The road leading into the grounds was baracaded by police who weren't allowing anyone to enter. Then I drove around the side (Uplands Golf Club) and couldn't see anything there either. However, on the Huntclub side you could see all the planes that had been moved away from the terminal. They were located closer to the Ottawa Flying Club. There were only probably six or so parked.
JU101 From Canada, joined Mar 2001, 832 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1336 times:
I wonder if and when will we hear the specific details regarding the incident at YOW. I could just imagine how travelers bound for Toronto felt; driving would take less time.
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From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 140 posts, 
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