TORONTO -
Thousands of stranded travellers have landed at Canadian airports after
their international flights were diverted to Canada.
Canadian
transportation officials have shut down all airports in Canada
indefinitely to make room for the U.S.-bound international flights.
All domestic and international flights have been grounded as a
precautionary measure after a series of attacks on high-profile targets
in the United States. Only military, police or humanitarian flights are
permitted to fly.
The United States Federal Aviation Authority ordered all international
flights to the United States to be diverted to the nearest airport.
There were close to 500 aircraft affected. About 250 returned to their
point of departure, while Canada received close to 200 rerouted planes.
Airports throughout Atlantic Canada have already received dozens of
flights including Moncton, St. John's, Halifax, Goose Bay, Stephenville,
Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary,
Abbotsford and Whitehorse.
Halifax airport
says they currently have 44 planes on the ground and about 7,000 to
8,000 passengers. The RCMP is sweeping all of the planes and the
passengers' luggage after which they will be transported to large sports
facilities in the city for the night.
The RCMP originally said it would take up to 90 minutes to sweep each
plane and process passengers, but the enormous size of the effort has
sped up the process. Four planes are now being emptied each hour.
Officials say everyone should be off the planes by 5 a.m. ET.
Some weary-looking passengers leaving the planes were just happy they
were safe.
"We're alive, we're safe, our prayers go out to the other people," said
Matthew Sakalski of Florida.
Newfoundland expects to host anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 people in
St. John's, Gander and Stephenville. St. John's airport is operating at
double capacity with 27 wide-body jets sitting on the tarmac.
They will be put up in hotels, conference centres and private homes.
Officials in Gander say they've had a tremendous response from people
living in the area.
"People are
coming in with blankets and water and walking into the office
volunteering their time," said Maj. Alfred Richardson.
Many people in Toronto are also offering their homes to travellers
stranded at Pearson Airport.
"All Canadian airspace has been closed other than for inbound overseas
flights," said Calgary Airport Authority spokesperson Mike Cunnington.
Aviation officials in Whitehorse had a false alarm after a South Korean
747 was intercepted over Alaska and escorted to the airport by U.S. and
Canadian jet fighters.
Officials believed it could have been a hijacked aircraft, but it turned
out to be a redirected airliner running low on fuel.
Jet fighters circled Whitehorse as the plane was inspected.
Prime Minister Jean Chretien has condemned what he called a "cowardly
attack" south of the border and pledged full assistance to the U.S.,
including medical support and a home for the displaced travellers. He
also assured Canadians to remain calm, noting that the government was
increasing security.
Written by CBC News Online staff