“There is currently no threat to the safety of the traveling public at YUL,” stated Eric Forest, addressing concerns following a suspicious package incident at Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.
The situation unfolded on March 18, 2026, when a suspicious package was discovered, prompting a temporary reduction in air traffic. As a precaution, one of the two runways was closed while authorities conducted an investigation.
By 5 p.m., both runways were reopened, allowing normal flight operations to resume. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a ground stop for flights from certain American airports to YUL, which caused significant delays.
At 4:45 p.m., the FAA downgraded the alert to a ground delay, indicating that the situation was under control. Despite the ongoing investigation, Eric Forest reassured the public, saying, “The investigation is still ongoing, but there is currently no threat to passenger safety.”
Delays were reported for both domestic and international flights, with an average delay of approximately 54 minutes for departures to Montreal. Passengers were advised to check their flight schedules before heading to the airport, as residual delays could persist for a few hours.
The Sûreté du Québec was actively responding to the situation, and while the investigation continued, there was no immediate threat to passengers. The FAA had initially cited a bomb threat as the cause of the disruption, but this claim was later unconfirmed by local authorities.
As of now, the airport is fully operational, and normal flight operations have resumed. However, details regarding the exact nature of the suspicious package remain unconfirmed, leaving some uncertainties surrounding the incident.
Travelers are encouraged to stay informed about their flight statuses as the situation develops, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
