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UPDATE: Charges pending after threats at Fort McMurray airport

A man was taken into custody at the Fort McMurray International Airport, after reports of a bomb threat. Wood Buffalo RCMP was called to the terminal at about 12:30 p.m. Initial police scanner reports said an Air Canada passenger was pulled from a plane for making comments about a bomb.

Reports later said the man was on the phone with someone making the comments. Mounties rushed to the airport and evacuated the building. David Warren was on the AC8385 flight to Edmonton when officials told passengers they had to get off.

“They escorted the gentleman off our plane […] after exiting the plane, he was being handcuffed inside the terminal. And we were told by certain individuals that there was a bomb threat in place,” says Warren.

“We were told by other passengers that were on the plane that he was seeming a little inebriated and discussing the issue,” says Warren.

Airport Spokesperson Jesse Meyer would only say that there was an incident unfolding, but because RCMP is involved, he couldn’t share the details. Meyer is asking passengers to check their flight status. By about 1:30 Wood Buffalo RCMP confirmed police were responding to a threat at the airport and officers asked the public to stay away from the area.

“We reviewed the situation, we found no threat and the airport has been out back into operations,” said RCMP Superintendent Bob Couture at a news conference.

Couture said he can’t confirm whether the man’s words were a joke, but he said police take the comments very seriously. The man faces charges possible charges under Aeronautics Act and Criminal Code.

“We are very grateful to the RCMP for their prompt, professional response to the situation,” says Joanne Barnes, Communications Coordinator for the Fort McMurray Airport Authority. “CATSA staff worked hard to ensure that passengers were re-screened as efficiently as possible once returning to the terminal, and airline staff made themselves available to answer passenger inquiries. We appreciate the cooperation of all our our partners in a situation such as this.”

Airport officials began letting staff back into the building at about 1:50 p.m. Shortly after, the public was allowed back in. Officials say operations at the airport are back to normal. The incident impacted four flights and about 300 passengers.

In an email, Air Canada would not comment on the incident but said the matter is with authorities.