Flights grounded at Vancouver Airport after small plane allegedly 'hijacked,' RCMP say
At about 1:10 p.m. PT on July 15, RCMP say they received reports of a Cessna 172 that had been "hijacked" from Vancouver Island and was entering YVR airspace. Police, along with police dogs and air services, responded.
By 1:45 p.m., police say the plane landed safely, and one person, the only person on the plane, was arrested.
Nine incoming flights diverted to other airports and flights were grounded at YVR for about half an hour during the incident, which airport officials described as a "security incident."
YVR head of communications Stephen Smart said Nav Canada implemented the temporary halt to operations after a small private aircraft was seen circling in the airspace near the airport.
Nav Canada confirmed there was a security incident, but would not say more.
Witness Paul Heeney was driving toward the Fraser River when he noticed a small plane banking to the right. It was flying low, in airspace a small plane wouldn't usually be in, he said.
He wondered if the pilot was in trouble.
"A few minutes later, we saw a second pass ... the plane was making a big clockwise circle," he said.
According to the Victoria International Airport, the aircraft is operated by the Victoria Flying Club. CBC News has reached out to the flying club for more information.
Some flights grounded, others diverted
Smart said flights were grounded for 39 minutes, which is "not minor," but said it "could have lasted a lot longer."
"This is not something that we would experience on a regular basis," Smart said. However, he added, airport staff rehearse a variety of scenarios regularly to be able to respond to unusual situations.
The airport says flights are now operating as usual; however, there may still be some delays. Travellers are being advised to check their flight status directly with airlines.
Smart said YVR is working with airlines to get travellers who were diverted to other airports to their intended destinations.
Police say their investigation is ongoing and no further details can be released at this time.
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