Air India passengers stranded in Iqaluit were airlifted to Chicago by the Canadian Armed Forces after a commercial flight was forced into an emergency landing due to a bomb threat on Tuesday.
The CAF Airbus A330 passenger plane in the arctic city late Tuesday evening before departing for Chicago around 11:30 p.m with the stranded passengers.
The plane is similar to the one used by Canadian Prime Ministers.
Tederal cabinet ministers made the decision to employ the CAF in the evacuation after Air India failed to provide a replacement plane.
“We have approved a request to have the Canadian Armed Forces provide an airlift to get passengers safely to their destination in Chicago,” said Defence Minister Bill Blair on social media.
Additionally, Iqaluit does not have the accommodations necessary for all 211 stranded passengers, noted Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan.
“Despite great efforts, the city of Iqaluit is not equipped to house these passengers. After consultation with Transport Minister @AnitaAnandMP and in my role as Minister of Emergency Preparedness, I have approved a request for @CanadianForces resources to ease the pressure on Iqaluit and send passengers safely to their destination in Chicago,” said Minister Sajjan in a post to X.
Air India Flight 127 made an emergency landing in Iqaluit after a global aviation bomb threat circulated.
According to the RCMP, the flight was scheduled to travel from New Delhi to Chicago before being forced to touch down at the Iqaluit International Airport at 5:21 a.m.
Air India said in a statement that it, along with other airlines, have been subjected to “a number of threats” in recent days.
While they have all ended up being hoaxes thus far, the airline said it would still be re-screening the aircraft and passengers as a precautionary measure.
Another Air India flight travelling from Mumbai to New York was rerouted to Delhi after an online bomb threat on Monday as well.
Blair’s office has not yet confirmed whether Air India will be reimbursing Ottawa for the costs of the CAF transportation.