Knives hidden on Air Canada plane

Intelligence reports suggest the terrorists planned more hijacks

By the BBC's Lee Carter in Toronto

Air Canada says that one of its airliners that was due to fly from Toronto to New York on 11 September was subsequently found to have knives concealed on board.

The knives were similar to those used by the hijackers, who took control of passenger aircraft and flew them at targets in New York and Washington.

The Air Canada plane was grounded minutes before it was due to take off because of the attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York.

On 14 September, as passengers boarded the plane at Toronto, one of them found several "box cutter" knives concealed in the overhead compartment.

Major investigation

Air Canada says the aircraft was left largely unattended until the flight to Calgary three days after the terror attacks.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have now interviewed almost everyone on board the aborted Toronto to New York Air Canada flight 704, asking them if they saw anyone acting suspiciously.

The police are not commenting on what is emerging as a major investigation, and the airline has not released a passenger list for the flight.

But it is known that on 14 September, the plane was impounded for a thorough search using dogs trained to sniff out explosives and weapons.