Say Low-Flying Fighter Jet Came From South

It may not be most troubling airspace incursion we've seen of late, but it's still a big deal. A US jet reportedly violated Canadian airspace in June, and the Canadian Parliament wants to know why.

Member of Parliament Alex Atamanenko told Defense Minister Peter MacKay to demand a US account on the accusation. "From all indications, an unidentified foreign fighter jet has violated our airspace," Atamanenko said.

"We've done our homework," he aid. "It looks like it was a US fighter jet."

Witnesses reported June 18 a jet coming from the direction of the US flying very low over the Trail airport, then above the town of Trail, according to the Canadian Press.

US officials at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, WA and Whidbey Island air base near Seattle deny any US military aircraft being in the area at that time.

"It is important to note that this area is not barren, open terrain. It is densely populated and the home of a major industrial smelter, Teck Cominco, that is vital to our economy," Atamanenko said.

He said residents of the town of Trail "deserve some answers. We need to know why it was there."

John Crichton, president and CEO of NAV Canada, a private corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation service, sent a letter to Atamanenko saying radar in that area cannot track aircraft operating below about 6,800 feet.

The Ministry of Transportation said it conducted a "thorough investigation" and confirmed it wasn't a Canadian Forces jet witnesses saw.

FMI: www.navcanada.ca, www.mto.gov.on.ca