El Al Jet Diverted From Toronto Airport Due To Terrorist Threats

October 23, 2003
By Zohar Blumenkrantz, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service

Threats of a terror attack on an Israeli jet at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, caused airport authorities to divert an El Al flight that was scheduled to arrive from Tel Aviv on Thursday.

The threats were relayed to airport authorities by Israeli sources, Channel 2 reported.

El Al flight 105 was diverted to the Mirabel airport near Montreal, where the crew awaited further instructions.

An hour and a half after landing in Montreal, the plane which was carrying some 180 passengers took off for John C. Munroe International Airport, near Toronto. The plane was refueled, and was awaiting ermission to continue to Los Angeles, the flight's final destination.

El Al transported the 44 passengers who were to disembark in Toronto from the alternate airport outside to the city, and transferred 45 passengers who were to board the flight to Los Angeles.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it was investigating the case, but spokesman Sgt. Jocelyn Mimeault also refused to discuss any details about the security threat.

The Toronto Star quoted Pearson International Airport spokesperson Ken Mitchell as saying that a threat was made to the aircraft and to the Toronto airport. According to the paper, Mitchell couldn't say if the threat came from onboard the aircraft or elsewhere.

"We do know that the threat was made while the aircraft was in flight and we know that the threat was made to this aircraft and to the airport," he said. "We don't know the nature of the threat or how that threat was transmitted," the Toronto Star quoted Mitchell as saying.

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