Canadian and U.S. fighter jets escorted two international flights into Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport on Wednesday following the discovery of a suspicious suitcase aboard one of the aircraft.

The incident unfolded in the afternoon of March 18, 2026, when the suitcase was found on a landing flight, triggering standard security protocols. Airport authorities closed one runway, runway 24R, and NAV Canada limited incoming flights. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for all flights bound for the airport at 3:02 p.m. ET, citing a bomb threat, which lasted until shortly before 5 p.m.

In response, the North American Aerospace Defense Command deployed Canadian CF-18 fighter jets, U.S. F-16s, and a KC-135 aerial refueling tanker to monitor and escort the two international flights until they landed safely. A NORAD spokesperson emphasized the organization's layered defense network, including radars, satellites, and fighter aircraft, to address air security incidents.

Quebec provincial police, the Sûreté du Québec, arrested two men—one in his 20s and the other in his 30s—after the planes touched down. The suspects, who were passengers on the flights, were questioned in connection with the suspicious item. Both were released by Thursday morning, with police indicating one could face fraud-related charges pending review by the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales.

Airport spokesperson Eric Forest stated that local law enforcement's investigation concluded the threat was unfounded. "The potential threat in the suspicious package turned out to be unfounded, and operations returned to normal," Forest said. "The investigation is still ongoing, but there is currently no threat to the safety of the traveling public at YUL." Both runways reopened, and the airport returned to full operations, though some domestic and international flights experienced delays into the evening.

The ground stop affected departures from much of the eastern and midwestern United States, as well as Canadian air traffic control regions including Montreal, Toronto, and Moncton. Fewer than a dozen flights were directly delayed at YUL.

Montreal police assisted the Sûreté du Québec during the response. SQ spokesperson Béatrice Dorsainville noted that one of the men could face charges related to fraud. No further details on the nature of the suitcase or the men's actions have been released as the probe continues.