The airspace above Olympic venues will be off-limits during the Games and authorities will be watching closely for anything suspicious in those restricted zones, officials told CTV News on Wednesday.
"Were flying air patrols. We have more people looking at the radar scopes," said Lt. Col. Robert Martin, a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD.
If something suspicious -- known as a "track of interest" -- catches their eye, CF-18s could be scrambled, Martin said.
Air traffic controllers will first try to communicate with the aircraft. If that fails, CF-18 pilots could be asked to shadow the aircraft or close in and try to identify the aircraft.
Failing that, CF-18 pilots could rock their wings or drop flares to get the pilot's attention.
"That should get the pilot's attention that he's probably somewhere where he shouldn't be," Martin said.
If the pilot still doesn't comply, military pilots can perform a maneuver called a "headbutt" where they fly in front of the suspicious aircraft and force that pilot to change direction.
Meanwhile, data is collected at a command centre on the ground, including who owns the plane, and where it took off.
If the aircraft is deemed "hostile" -- meaning it's considered a threat -- it could be shot down.
Asked what message he would send to someone who is plotting an airborne threat during the Games, Martin replied: "Don't."
"We're watching. You will be met," he said. "If somebody's out there thinking of doing something nefarious towards the games, they're not going to be successful."
With files from CTV British Columbia's Lisa Rossington
