Security Breach Lapse Forces Air Canada Flight to Brazil Returns to Toronto

A Brazil-bound Air Canada flight has been forced to return to Pearson Airport in Toronto after security was breached at Canada's largest airport.

The commotion began when an unidentified male passenger managed to walk through security checkpoints without being routinely checked shortly before 11 p.m. The lapse forced Air Canada Flight 090, which departed from Pearson International Airport at 12 a.m. ET to return. The flight, which had four hours to travel, had 189 passengers on board.

Other departing flights were also held up while security and police searched for the man.

"We were assisting airport authorities to locate a male party and the call was for a potential security breach at the airport," Constable George Tudos, a spokesman for the Peel Regional Police, told CBC News.

"So this may have halted a few flights from departing at their regular times, just to facilitate our search to locate this party."

A statement released by the Greater Toronto Airport Authority said it "takes all issues related to airport security very seriously."

"In the interim, enhanced security measures have been put in place. Given the incident involves airport security, we cannot share specific details. We sincerely apologize to the passengers who were inconvenienced."

A throng of police and airport security greeted Air Canada Flight 090 when it landed in Toronto at 6:30 a.m. They searched the entire plane and led off all the passengers, except for one unidentified male passenger. He was taken into custody and heavily questioned.

"We found there was no criminality involved and that was pretty much it," Constable George Tudos said. "At that point, he was allowed to reboard."

"It was the longest flight from Toronto to Toronto that I've ever been on," Passenger Olivier Cullen told CBC News.

"There was a lot of confusion in the air. People are upset, but some people are taking it in stride."

Cullen was going to see the FIFA World Cup. The derail made him miss the afternoon game between England and Uruguay.