The Richmond RCMP says officers arrested a suspect who hijacked a small aircraft and then entered the airspace near Vancouver International Airport (YVR), causing multiple delays at the airport.
People who were at the airport at the time of the incident called 1130 NewsRadio and reported seeing a large police presence on the runway, centred around a Cessna 172. Callers also reported seeing one person being arrested.
According to police, when they received the first reports of the hijacked aircraft entering YVR airspace at 1:10 p.m., they deployed multiple units, including the RCMP Air Services and the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service, to the airport.
In an email to 1130 NewsRadio, YVR spokesperson Reena Gacad Kirkpatrick confirmed the police presence on the runway.
“Shortly before 1:30 p.m. this afternoon, a security incident involving a small private aircraft in the airspace near YVR prompted a temporary ground stop for arriving aircraft,” she explained.
“At 1:45 p.m., the plane safely landed at YVR, and Richmond RCMP officers arrested the suspect without incident,” the Richmond RCMP said.
“The suspect was the sole occupant of the aircraft,” officers added.
According to police and the YVR spokesperson, the small private aircraft was entering YVR airspace from Victoria Flying Club, where the alleged suspect had hijacked the small passenger aircraft.
1130 NewsRadio also received calls from people sitting in planes who say that they were stuck on the tarmac for quite some time before they were ready the take off.
One caller reported that their plane was searched by a security dog before taking off.
YVR’s flight tracker shows some flights have been diverted to other airports, which YVR spokesperson Kirkpatrick confirmed, too.
“During the 39-minute ground stop for arrivals, nine inbound aircraft were diverted to alternate airports, including Comox, Calgary, Abbotsford, Seattle, Edmonton, and Victoria.”
She says that flights are now departing and landing normally.
“However, some flight delays are possible, and passengers should check directly with their airline or at yvr.ca before coming to the airport.”
The Richmond RCMP said, “This is an active and ongoing investigation with numerous factors still being assessed as such, no further details can be shared at this time.”
More to come.
With files from Srushti Gangdev.
