Video shows police detain alleged hijacker of small plane at Vancouver airport
Police said around 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, that Richmond RCMP received a report that a Cessna 172, a small passenger plane, had been hijacked from the Vancouver Island area and was entering airspace near Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The alleged hijacker was the only one on the aircraft at the time, the department added.
The small plane landed safely at 1:45 p.m. at YVR, and police officers arrested the alleged hijacker without incident. Nine incoming flights were diverted to other airports, and flights were grounded at YVR for approximately half an hour during the incident, which airport officials described as a "security incident," according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Video: Police detain suspect after alleged hijacking
Richmond RCMP, along with several other agencies, were deployed as authorities worked with the airport to ensure the "safety and security of all involved." Police said an investigation is ongoing.
'Plane was making a big clockwise circle'
Paul Heeney, a witness to the alleged hijacking, told CBC he was driving toward the Fraser River in British Columbia when he noticed a small plane banking to the right. Since the plane was flying low in airspace, which is where a small plane usually wouldn't be, he initially thought the pilot was in trouble, he said, per the public broadcaster.
"A few minutes later, we saw a second pass … the plane was making a big clockwise circle," Heeney said.
The Victoria International Airport told CBC that the small plane belongs to the Victoria Flying Club, which offers professional flight training.
YVR Head of Communications Stephen Smart said this incident is "not something that we would experience on a regular basis," CBC reported. However, he did say that airport staff rehearse several scenarios regularly so they're able to respond to unusual situations.
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com.
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