Westjet flight diverted to Winnipeg

[Acey]

At least Calgary got in on it. I thought you guys would be spared of all the fun.

[Acey]

Anybody see a pattern? I don't really see one. All the WJ threats involve sort of cross-country flights but now with Vancouver in on it, a thought I might have had has gone out the window.

6/25 AC143 St. John's - Ottawa
6/27 WS391 Halifax - Edmonton
6/29 WS442 Edmonton - Toronto
6/30 WS323 Toronto - Saskatoon
7/1 WS722 Vancouver - Toronto

[KelVarnsen]

I am not sure if the Air Canada flight is connected. Didn't that one have a note on the aircraft?

[Acey]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

I am not sure if the Air Canada flight is connected. Didn't that one have a note on the aircraft?

Yeah someone left a note in the lav, 3 were questioned then released. Doesn't sound related at all but could be just based on the proximity. The first WJ threat was called into an airport and the dude talked for 4 minutes in a very calm and collected voice which suggests it's not just some bored teenagers.

[llwhiteoutll]

Looks like all 737s, seem to be higher traffic routes, 4/5 would go through Toronto ATC at some point in the flight, 2/5 would go through Moncton ATC, 4/5 depart between 1700 and 2100, 4/5 are direct flights, WS 323 might have been bound for Saskatoon at the time, but it winds up in Victoria by way of Calgary

Not related, but AC143 was the number of the Gimli Glider as well

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

Looks like all 737s, seem to be higher traffic routes, 4/5 would go through Toronto ATC at some point in the flight, 2/5 would go through Moncton ATC, 4/5 depart between 1700 and 2100

Not related, but AC143 was the number of the Gimli Glider as well

Not a lot of passengers on some of the flights however, only 30 passengers the flight tonight.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by Acey

Yeah someone left a note in the lav, 3 were questioned then released. Doesn't sound related at all but could be just based on the proximity. The first WJ threat was called into an airport and the dude talked for 4 minutes in a very calm and collected voice which suggests it's not just some bored teenagers.

Didn't they say it was Ontario were the phone call originated from on that one?

[sharkov]

All the planes are either departing or entering Toronto.

[llwhiteoutll]

The other possibility is that it could be someone testing different airports response and response times to a situation like this.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by sharkov

All the planes are either departing or entering Toronto.

Except the first one (Halifax-Edmonton), which had the longest call, wasn't. So maybe that was the actual guy and the subsequent ones are copycats. Possible. Toronto also has the most flights in the WJ system, so my initial thought is that particular aspect is coincidence.

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

Didn't they say it was Ontario were the phone call originated from on that one?

The AC threat was the note in the lav. The first WJ threat (Halifax-Edmonton) was the long call into the Ontario airport.

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

The other possibility is that it could be someone testing different airports response and response times to a situation like this.

This is my fear.

[Acey]

Criminal Code - R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46 (Section 77)

Endangering safety of aircraft or airport

77. Every one who

(d) places or causes to be placed on board an aircraft in service anything that is likely to cause damage to the aircraft, that will render it incapable of flight or that is likely to endanger the safety of the aircraft in flight,

(g) endangers the safety of an aircraft in flight by communicating to any other person any information that the person knows to be false,

is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life.

I guess the only consolation at this point is that, even though they won't, the book could be thrown at the guy and he could have 4 life sentences.

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

Looks like all 737s, seem to be higher traffic routes, 4/5 would go through Toronto ATC at some point in the flight, 2/5 would go through Moncton ATC, 4/5 depart between 1700 and 2100, 4/5 are direct flights, WS 323 might have been bound for Saskatoon at the time, but it winds up in Victoria by way of Calgary

722 had 30 people which would be expected on Canada Day for that leg even though Vancouver-Toronto is generally busy. I don't know if loads are going into the flights getting picked or what. I'd be surprised if routings and FIR's they fly through matter to these guys... if they do then we have a potentially bigger problem but no conclusion can really be drawn from only 4 of them, IMO.

[JackJack]

Disgruntled employees? Given all the union talk and animosity between various groups and management, it could be possible?

[burn_this_city]

Probably those robocallers from India angry about being forced to pretend to be Marriott now.

[underGRADFlame]

Originally Posted by JackJack

Disgruntled employees? Given all the union talk and animosity between various groups and management, it could be possible?

This is what i've been thinking.There is a lot of butt hurt right meow between pilots, FA's and the company. Not a stretch to think this.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Locke

Rumours abound that this man was on board...

Came for the "goin' to Winnipeg" joke, left satisfied, although slightly disappointed it took until post #19. You're slipping, CP.

[jschick88]

Really hope they catch the POS that is doing this ASAP.

WestJet ‏@WestJet 4 minutes ago
Confirm YYJ received bomb threat against our aircraft #WS1709. Worked with regulatory & law enforcement agencies and deemed not credible.

[Acey]

Already takes balls to call in a bomb threat, but to do it on a flight coming from/going to the US... if the water you're in wasn't already deep, it's now immeasurably deep.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Acey

Already takes balls to call in a bomb threat, but to do it on a flight coming from/going to the US... if the water you're in wasn't already deep, it's now immeasurably deep.

I wouldn't underestimate human stupidity. People still shine lasers at aircraft for "fun". Who knows if these are terrorists, or just idiots who think this is no different than a prank phone call to ask if your fridge is running.

[Acey]

Just being involved in the industry, I'm maybe more mad about this than the average person. When your job is to keep airplanes safe, it's personal and feels almost violating for somebody to screw with us just for the hell of it.

[Envitro]

Whoever is doing this needs to die and go straight to hell.

They're messing with people's lives, livelihoods, and our general way of life.