Boeing E-3 Sentry, a rare U.S. military AWACS plane, was seen over Ottawa Tuesday, likely on a routine training mission, ex-NORAD official says.
Unusual Military Aircraft Captures Attention in Ottawa
A rare U.S. military aircraft drew attention over Ottawa Tuesday, prompting speculation about its purpose. Images and videos of the Boeing E-3 Sentry, known as AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System), circulated widely on social media, sparking curiosity among residents.
Purpose of the Flight
Christopher Coates, former deputy commander of NORAD and director of foreign policy at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, said the flight was likely a “routine training mission.” The plane, equipped with a large spinning radar dome, is used to enhance ground-based radar and monitor airspace from above. Its presence over the Canadian capital is considered unusual due to its rarity in the U.S. military fleet.
Possible Security Operations
Coates suggested the aircraft could also have been providing enhanced security for an event or ensuring an updated “air picture” of the region. “The aircraft are very rare in the U.S. inventory and they’re in high demand,” he said, noting that regular flights over Ottawa would be uncommon.
Flight Details and Tracking
Crowd-sourced tracking data from ADS-B Exchange shows the plane took off from Bangor International Airport in Maine. It flew across southern Quebec toward Ottawa, passing at low altitude over both primary airport runways before continuing west toward Kingston, then south over Lake Ontario, and finally circling Griffiss International Airport in Rome, N.Y.
Local Resident Spotting the Plane
Ottawa resident Derek Puddicombe, who lives in Barrhaven along a flight path, said the aircraft’s roar was unlike any typical commercial or private plane. “Once I saw the disc on the aircraft, I knew right away it was an AWACS,” he said.
Official Responses Remain Limited
Attempts to obtain comment from the Canadian Department of National Defence, the U.S. Air Force, and NORAD bases were unsuccessful. The Ottawa International Airport Authority said it does not track military aircraft, while Nav Canada cited confidentiality rules. Defence Minister Dalton McGuinty also stated, “I know nothing about it.”
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