Pearson Airport in Toronto handles more travelers than any other airport in Canada. Getty Images
A 30-year-old man with a gun was shot and killed by police at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Thursday morning. The incident happened near the departures area at Terminal 1.
Police said they were called to the airport because of a dispute involving two or three people. The man, who was in distress and sitting in an SUV, was part of the group.
Peel Regional Police officers reached the scene around 7:00 a.m. They spoke with the group for about 10 minutes, trying to calm everyone down.
Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said officers tried hard to settle the situation without using force. But things took a sudden turn. The man unexpectedly pulled out a gun. Officers then fired their weapons.
The man was rushed to the hospital. Doctors declared him dead soon after. Police have not shared his name.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which looks into police shootings in Ontario, is now handling the case. They confirmed no police officers were hurt. They also said there is no ongoing danger to the public.
The airport faced some travel delays after the shooting. Roads around Terminal 1 were shut down for a while. Some buses to the airport had to take different routes.
Airport officials said all flights were running as usual despite the situation. Public transport to and from the airport is now back to normal.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford reacted to the incident. He said, "What's the world coming to? You go to the airport and there's shootings happening."
Pearson Airport is in Mississauga, about 20 kilometers from downtown Toronto. It is Canada’s busiest airport. More than 40 million passengers pass through it each year.
This is not the first time the airport has been in the news this year. In February, a Delta flight from Minneapolis had an accident while landing. The plane flipped and caught fire, but all 80 passengers survived.
The police have not released more information about the man involved in Thursday’s shooting. The SIU will continue to investigate how the event unfolded and whether officers followed the proper steps.
Travelers at the airport were shocked by the scene. Some were delayed, but most flights kept going without interruption.
Police said their officers acted only after trying all other options. The man’s sudden move to pull a gun forced them to respond immediately.
This event has raised concern over airport safety, especially in a place that sees so many travelers each day.
