Flight BA274 made emergency landing in Canada early on Wednesday morning after pilot diverted the plane as a precaution

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A British Airways flight from Las Vegas to London has been forced to perform an emergency landing in Montreal due to a bomb threat, Canadian police have said.

Flight BA274 touched down at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau international airport at about 5.15am local time (10.15am BST) after the pilot diverted the plane as a precaution.

Cpl Francois Gagnon, of the Royal Canadian Mounted police, the national police force leading the operation at the airport, confirmed a bomb threat had been received.

“British Airways received a bomb threat through a phone call,” he said.

Three hundred and 12 passengers and 16 crew members were evacuated from the flight, which left Las Vegas McCarran international airport at 9.30pm Pacific time on Tuesday and was due to arrive at Heathrow at 3.25pm on Wednesday.

Michael Kontos, 35, was on board the flight returning to his home in north London from a four-day trip to Las Vegas with his business partner.

“It was about four or five hours into the flight and we were woken up and told to check our bags to see if it was all ours,” he said. “The air stewards came round to check the bags too, to see if any items or packages were not ours.

“They couldn’t find anything but the captain decided to land the plane in Montreal. There was a little bit of hysteria on board the plane. It was not a pleasant experience. The captain told us there was a security scare.”

Kontos, the founder and artistic director at the London School of Barbering, said he and his fellow passengers were in a holding lounge while their luggage was searched and expect to stay in a Montreal hotel on Wednesday night.

“Everyone is tired,” he said. “We just want to know when we’re going to get home.”

A spokesman for Montreal police said a Swat team and police dogs were set to search the plane to ensure “nothing dangerous or suspicious” was on board.

Images posted on Twitter showed a fleet of police cars approaching the plane on the runway.

Piush Patel (@illmaticp) As per early reports on twitter, #britishairways had to land at #YUL for possible threat. @CJAD800 @CTVMontreal pic.twitter.com/HcwCWGKSHi

British Airways would not comment on reports of a bomb threat but confirmed the flight had been diverted.



A statement from BA said: “Our flight from Las Vegas to Heathrow landed safely this morning at Montreal and customers left the aircraft as normal after the captain took the decision to divert the aircraft as a precaution.

“The safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft are our highest priorities at all times. We are looking after the customers and will provide hotel rooms for them and will rebook them to other flights as soon as we can. We are working with the Canadian authorities and giving them our fullest support.”