Bomb Threat Diverts Virgin Airlines 747 to Eastern Canada

A Virgin Airlines 747 jet en route to New York from London with 314 passengers and crew was diverted Monday to Goose Bay military base in Canada's eastern province of New Foundland because of a bomb threat.

Four Canadian Forces CF-18 fighters took off to escort the British airways' jumbo jet.

The plane landed safely at Canadian Forces Goose Bay Base in southern Labrador.

Police spokesperson Helen Escott said the force received a call from the airline that a threat had been made against the plane. The exact nature of the threat wasn't revealed.

"The police are taking every security precaution to make sure the plane is going to be safe for boarding and flying," she said.

Escott didn't know the nature of the threat or how the airline received it.

A bomb disposal team was dispatched from Ottawa to examine the aircraft and luggage.

The passengers and crew were evacuated safely and were being put up for the night at the military base.

"Hopefully by tomorrow we'll be able to get the passengers on board again," said Capt. John Pulchny, a military spokesman.






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