A hijacked small plane landed safely in Vancouver, where RCMP arrested the sole suspect on board. The incident unfolded around 1:45 PM local time.
Vancouver, Canada: Travel at one of Canada’s busiest airports was briefly halted on Tuesday after federal police received a report of a hijacked small aircraft, officials confirmed.
RCMP Alerted to Hijacked Aircraft
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in British Columbia stated that at 1:10 pm (2010 GMT) they were informed that a Cessna 172 had been hijacked from the Vancouver Island area and was entering airspace near Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
According to the RCMP, the suspect was the sole occupant of the aircraft.
Safe Landing and Arrest
The plane safely landed at 1:45 pm (2045 GMT) at Vancouver International Airport, where the suspect was arrested without incident, the RCMP confirmed. Authorities have so far declined to release further details about the suspect or the motive.
Security Response and Flight Disruptions
Images published by CBC News showed the small white Cessna surrounded by multiple security vehicles on a runway after landing. The CBC also reported that the Cessna was operated by a flying club in Victoria, the provincial capital on Vancouver Island.
During the incident, Vancouver International Airport temporarily halted operations, leading to the diversion of nine inbound flights.
