“There is currently no threat to the safety of the traveling public at YUL,” stated Eric Forest, addressing concerns following a suspicious package incident at Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.
The situation unfolded on March 18, 2026, when air traffic was temporarily reduced due to the discovery of the package. One of the two runways was closed during the investigation, leading to significant delays for both domestic and international flights.
According to reports, the FAA initially issued a ground stop for flights from certain American airports to YUL, citing a bomb threat as the reason for the disruption. However, this alert was later downgraded to a ground delay at 4:45 p.m., and both runways were reopened by 5 p.m.
As the investigation continued, Forest reassured the public, saying, “The investigation is still ongoing, but there is currently no threat to passenger safety.” Despite this, delays persisted, with some departures to Montreal experiencing an average delay of 54 minutes.
Passengers were advised to check their flight schedules before heading to the airport, as residual delays were expected to last for several hours. The FAA indicated that the ground delay program at YUL was expected to end by 7:59 p.m. ET.
The Sûreté du Québec was actively responding to the situation, ensuring that safety protocols were followed. The airport is now fully operational, but the exact nature of the suspicious package remains unconfirmed.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the initial FAA warning about a bomb threat, which was not corroborated by local authorities. Nonetheless, normal flight operations have resumed, and travelers are encouraged to stay informed about any potential delays.
