Small Plane Hijacked, Flights Disrupted at Vancouver Airport

New Delhi (India) July 16: Police said Wednesday that a tiny plane had been "hijacked" from Canada's Vancouver Island region. It was en route to the airspace around Vancouver International Airport.

The aircraft that was "hijacked" was a Cessna 172. It belonged to a Victoria flying club. The flight landed in Vancouver at 2:15 a.m. IST on Wednesday. The suspect was the only person on board. He was arrested.

Flights paused, some rerouted

According to reports, Flight arrivals were stopped at the Vancouver airport for 39 minutes.

Nine incoming flights had to be rerouted. The operations at the crowded Vancouver airport were also put on hold in response to the notice.

Police tracked the jet when it landed. According to reports, the suspect who piloted it showed up. He was arrested at that time.

Suspect caught on runway without fight

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the "suspect was arrested without incident."

The pictures that went viral on the internet showed the man standing on the airport runway next to a Cessna plane. His hands in the air. He is surrounded by police.

At 1:10 p.m. PT on July 15, Richmond RCMP received reports of a Cessna 172 that had reportedly been "hijacked" from Vancouver Island. It was making its way into YVR airspace. Police used police dogs and air services to respond.

The incident was described by airport officials as a "security incident" involving a tiny private aircraft. Victoria International Airport accepted in a statement that the event included a small private aircraft owned by the Victoria Flying Club.

Paul Heeney is a witness of the incident. He was driving towards the Fraser River when he saw the aircraft's strange flight pattern.

Heeney expressed concern about the pilot's condition. He observed that the aircraft was flying low in airspace that is normally off-limits to tiny aircraft.

Although the airport reports that flight operations have resumed, there can still be some delays.

Aadrika Tayal