Canucks Concerned About 'Stealth Bombers'

Passengers, flight crews, and security officials are all still a bit tense after last month's discovery of a plot to bomb commercial flights over the Atlantic. But now, folks on the ground are getting into the act as well.

The Edmonton Sun reports several Canadian citizens have called the airport in that city, worried about what that dark-colored Airbus and an escort of two CF-18 fighters were doing flying over their fair city this past weekend.

"I saw two stealth bombers and an airplane in the middle, and I just wanted to know if it's something I should be worried about," one concerned caller reportedly asked airport personnel.

So... what IS going on?

Troop transportation, that's what. The aircraft carrying troops being flown to and from overseas postings is indeed a dark-colored Airbus. The CF-18s in question routinely escort it along the last 200 miles or so of its flights to and from CFB Cold Lake.

Military spokesman Katie McLaughlin said people who spot the aircraft "should be aware that's more than likely what it is (an escort), and not to be alarmed."

The exasperated operators at Edmonton Airport add that, just in case those folks are wondering... the next troop transport is due in November.

FMI: www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/4wing/about_us/index_e.asp