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Victoria airport closes to commercial flights as RCMP respond to ‘threat’

May 24, 2022 | 6:28 PM

NORTH SAANICH, B.C. — The Victoria International Airport says it is closing to commercial flights as the RCMP respond to a call for service.

A statement posted on the airport’s website Tuesday afternoon asks travellers not to go there.

It says the airport authority could not comment further, and it would provide more information as soon as possible.

A statement from RCMP Sgt. Chris Manseau says officers are “responding to a threat” at the airport.

It says there are no public safety concerns, but police are asking the public to avoid the area.

An update posted to the airport’s Facebook page just after 4:30 p.m. says airlines are working with their operations teams to determine the status of flights, and those scheduled over the next two to three hours are cancelled.

The airport’s website shows five Air Canada and three WestJet flights scheduled to arrive between 3:30 and 8:20 p.m. have been cancelled, along with eight departures. An Air Canada flight to Calgary scheduled to leave the Victoria at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday is also listed as cancelled.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24, 2022.

The Canadian Press