NOTAM RELATED AIRCRAFT INCIDENTS
Infraction - Aeroflot Flight 111 Entering Canadian Territorial Airspace:
- On the same day that Transport Canada issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) closing Canadian territorial airspace to all Russian aircraft operators, Russian Aeroflot flight 111 entered Canadian airspace while enroute from Miami to Moscow.
- Aeroflot flight 111 departed Miami at 2:29PM local time February 27, and while enroute to Moscow, flew over parts of New Brunswick, Quebec and Labrador.
- Aeroflot flight 111 was aware of the NOTAM yet proceeded to enter Canadian airspace on the grounds that it was a humanitarian flight. This was relayed to air traffic controllers who acted under existing NAV CANADA protocols, which stated that NAV CANADA does not have the authority to deny airspace access to an airborne aircraft declaring itself a humanitarian flight, medical emergency/MEDEVAC or emergency flight.
- Following this first breach by Aeroflot flight 111, two other Russian aircrafts attempted to declare themselves humanitarian as well, but were told to divert and travel around Canadian airspace.
- Transport Canada is aware of this incident and is investigating the event.
Aircraft unable to depart Canada - Russian owned Antonov-24 Aircraft
- The Russian-registered aircraft (an AN-124 cargo aircraft) landed in Toronto prior to the imposition of the NOTAM. That aircraft is not being permitted to leave Toronto due to such a flight contravening the requirements of the NOTAM.
- The airspace restriction remains in effect until further notice; as a result, the aircraft remains grounded where it is.
Infraction-Third Russian Charter Flight Landing in Yellowknife:
- Transport Canada (TC) was made aware by Canada Border Services Agency of a charter aircraft that landed in Yellowknife on March 1, 2022, carrying two Russian Foreign Nationals.
- TC has reviewed and investigated this incident in collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and have determined that the operator and individuals onboard the flight were non-compliant with the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs).
- In accordance with CARs, Transport Canada issued administrative monetary penalties (fines) to one Russian National passenger, who chartered the aircraft, the aircraft operator and its two pilots, totaling 24 thousand dollars in fines. The charter aircraft departed Canada on March 4, 2022, with no passengers onboard, and the involved passengers departed Canada via commercial flights.