Two US Air Force F-15 Eagle fighters launched into Canadian airspace to intercept a Korean Air Boeing 777 on April 10, 5.30am Pacific Time. The plane was going to Seoul when it received a bomb threat shortly after takeoff from Vancouver, British Columbia.
As a result, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) ordered the two fighter jets to intercept the 777 and escort it to another destination, the Canadian Forces Base Comox, also in British Columbia. After September 11, NORAD is in charge of guarding the North American airspace against potential airborne terrorist threats in addition to watching the skies for Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and any kind of military air attacks.
The jets, which reportedly belonged to the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Fighter Wing, didn’t have any problem escorting the airliner. And, fortunately, there was no bomb in the plane. The plane, which received a second bomb threat, will return to Seoul shortly. [Vancouver Sun via Flight Global]