“The investigation conducted by local law enforcement has concluded and has been found to be unfounded,” stated Eric Forest, a spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec, following a security incident at Montreal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL).
The incident began when a suspicious suitcase was discovered at YUL, initially prompting authorities to treat it as a potential bomb threat. This led to the arrest of two men, one in his 20s and the other in his 30s, who were later released but could still face charges of fraud.
As the situation unfolded, standard security protocols were activated to ensure the safety of the travelling public and airport facilities. “Standard security protocols were activated to ensure the safety of the travelling public and the facilities following the identification of a suspicious suitcase on board a flight that landed at YUL,” Forest added.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by issuing a ground stop for flights bound for YUL, stating, “The ground stop means those flights will not take off.” This ground stop was later downgraded to a ground delay.
The investigation led to the temporary closure of one runway, causing significant delays for some domestic and cross-border flights. Reports indicated that some flights experienced delays of up to one hour due to congestion.
Both runways were reopened shortly before 5 p.m., allowing operations to resume. “There was no bomb threat, despite an initial FAA alert referencing one,” confirmed Quebec provincial police.
The incident not only affected flights at YUL but also had repercussions across a wide expanse of airspace, including the eastern and midwestern United States. The situation highlighted the importance of swift action in response to security threats.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the full implications of the incident, but local law enforcement conducted a thorough investigation to ensure public safety.
