Air Canada and YVR have launched internal investigations after passengers on a flight from Beijing were misdirected Sunday and failed to clear Canada Customs.

Mark Monteiro, who said he was a passenger on the flight, said the flight landed early and passengers had to wait for a gate agent to arrive to receive the aircraft.

“When we did disembark, it was through the domestic arrivals area and I was one of the first off and literally walked out to the cab line up.

“I fly back and forth to China frequently and have been doing so for the past 12 years. I knew that something was wrong, so I went back inside the terminal and flagged down a CBSA officer and told him that there was a 777’s worth of passengers entering the country without going through immigration.

“Had I not had luggage to collect, I would have gone home. So much for keeping our borders secure.”

Most of the passengers, who had been sent directly into the domestic terminal, were located and processed afterward, YVR spokesman Chris Devauld said in an emailed statement, but there were no details on how many skipped Customs altogether.

YVR said it is reviewing its internal procedures and continues to work with the Canada Border Service Agency and the airline.

Air Canada spokeswoman Angela Mah said in an emailed statement that Air Canada has also launched an internal investigation into the matter.

“We are also working with Vancouver airport Authority and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and other agencies in this matter.”

The CBSA said Monday that it is the responsibility of the airline to ensure all international travellers are presented to the CBSA for examination.

“In cases where individuals do not properly report for border processing as a result of errors caused by air carriers, these incidents are thoroughly reviewed and responsible parties may be subject to fines, penalties, and possible prosecution,” said CBSA spokeswoman Stefanie Wudel in an email statement.

“The CBSA works closely with our local law enforcement and travel industry partners to investigate and follow up should such circumstances arise.”

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