20/04/2009
Statement by Kent Woodside, Vice President and General Manager, CanJet Airlines. (07:30 AM ADT)

April 20th, 2009, Halifax, NS -- At approximately 23:30 ADT an armed man boarded CanJet Flight 918 which had landed at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Flight 918 had departed from Halifax at 7:15 last night. The flight was due to travel from Montego Bay to Santa Clara, in Cuba. The flight was being operated for Transat Tours Canada.

There were 174 passengers and eight crew scheduled to leave Montego Bay on Flight 918. All of those passengers and two of the crew have safely left the aircraft. Six crew are still on board the aircraft. The gunman also remains on board.

The security and safety of passengers and crew on all CanJet airlines is paramount. We are relieved that all of the passengers involved in this incident are safe, as well as the two crew members, and our top priority is the safe release of the remaining crew members.

We are providing our full cooperation to security officials and the local authorities who are doing everything possible to bring this matter to a peaceful end.

As you will appreciate this is an ongoing incident and so we don’t have all the details at this stage.

What we can tell you is this:

The Jamaican authorities have secured the area and the aircraft. Efforts are continuing to secure the release of the remaining crew.

None of the passengers or crew has been injured. And there has been no damage to the aircraft. All of the passengers are under the direction and control of the Jamaican authorities at the airport. Once security and investigators have been able to passengers will be moved to local hotel accommodation.

Another CanJet aircraft will be available to return any passengers who want to get back to Canada.

All of the passengers involved in the incident are Canadian.

The aircraft itself is a Boeing 737-800 which can carry 189 passengers.

We are working with security authorities in Jamaica and Canada. RCMP officers in Canada and Jamaica are involved. The Department of Foreign Affairs is also providing valuable support and the Prime Minister’s office has offered assistance.

Once again, the sole focus of all of our efforts is the safe release of everyone involved and a peaceful end to the situation.

We have an information line available for anyone with questions about family or relatives who may have been on board CanJet Flight 918. The number is 1-888-777-6429. That’s 1-888-777-6429. This information is also available on our website www.canjet.com.

We will provide new information as it becomes available and we plan to provide you with another briefing later in the day.