Man facing charges after Kelowna airport threat
By Contributor
A 35-year-old Alberta man currently residing in Summerland faces several charges after the Kelowna International Airport received a threat to an outgoing domestic flight on Saturday afternoon.
On Oct. 25 at 12:24 pm, the Kelowna RCMP received a report of a possible threat specific to an outbound flight set to depart from Kelowna International Airport later that afternoon. The aircraft was inbound at the time of the report and, as a precaution, was diverted to a secure location away from the terminal for the ongoing safety of the public, airport personnel, and the facility. The luggage of the outbound flight was also isolated away from the terminal building. Both the luggage and passengers were searched but nothing of concern was located.
The inbound flight was never subject to the threat and police believed the aircraft and the passengers of that flight were never in danger. It was out of an abundance of caution, and for the purposes of the investigation, that the flight was isolated and the passengers and their luggage searched.
The RCMP would like to thank the affected passengers for their patience and cooperation during this difficult situation.
Through the course of the investigation, a person of interest was identified and taken into custody.
Michael Joseph Howells has since been charged with Uttering Threats, Public Mischief, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Endangering Aircraft by False Information and Mischief. He was held in custody and is expected to appear in Court on Oct. 27.
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