'Reckless' flying drone near Toronto's Billy Bishop prompts police investigation
Incident involved a flight en route from Boston to Toronto Friday morning, Transport Canada says
Toronto police are investigating after a drone was spotted flying near Billy Bishop airport in an incident involving a Porter Airlines flight on Friday morning.
Transport Canada says a pilot observed the drone just before 8:30 a.m. Early evidence suggests it was operating "in a reckless manner," the federal agency said in a statement.
In an email to CBC Toronto, spokesperson Natasha Gauthier said the incident involved a flight en route from Boston to Toronto.
There's no word yet on what type of drone was involved.
"Flying a drone near an airport is extremely dangerous," Gauthier wrote.
Anyone who violates controlled or restricted airspace and threatens the safety of a plane can face fines of up to $25,000 or jail time, Transport Canada says.
Friday's incident comes just weeks after another Porter airlines flight had to take evasive action in November after nearly colliding with an object first thought to be a drone. Investigators with Canada's Transportation Safety Board later said the object — flying at around 9,000 feet — was flying higher and farther than most drones are capable of.
The transport agency says it is following up with Porter Airlines for more details. Anyone with information is asked to contact Toronto Police Service's 14 Division at 416-808-1400.