A 31-year-old man was arrested on Sunday after attempting to hijack a domestic flight in Mexico, trying to redirect it to the United States while it was in mid-flight, authorities reported.
The Airbus A320, which had taken off from Leon, Guanajuato, around 7:17 am local time, was en route to Tijuana in the northwest when the man assaulted a flight attendant and tried to enter the cockpit to divert the plane. The incident occurred approximately 45 minutes into the flight, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing at Guadalajara International Airport.
According to the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection, “The individual assaulted a flight attendant and attempted to gain access to the cockpit to redirect the flight to the United States.”
The man, who was reportedly traveling with family, was subdued by the crew, and an emergency alert was issued to land in Guadalajara.
A statement from flight operator Volaris indicated that the man claimed a close relative had been kidnapped, and that he had been threatened with death if he continued to Tijuana. The airline did not specify how many passengers were on board at the time.
Following the arrest, the flight resumed its journey to Tijuana, its original destination.
Guanajuato, the departure point for the flight, is known for its ongoing violence linked to drug cartels, which has expanded to include crimes like extortion and kidnapping.
AFP
