Authorities in Mexico arrested a 31-year-old man on Sunday after he attempted to redirect a domestic flight to the United States, forcing an emergency landing.
The incident occurred on a Volaris Airbus A320 that took off from León, Guanajuato, at 7:17 a.m., bound for Tijuana. About 45 minutes into the flight, the plane was forced to make an unscheduled landing at Guadalajara International Airport.
The Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection stated, “A subject assaulted a flight attendant and tried to enter the cockpit to divert the flight to the United States.” The man, who was traveling with family, reportedly claimed a close relative had been kidnapped and threatened with death if he proceeded to Tijuana.
Flight crew restrained the suspect and issued an emergency alert, leading to the aircraft’s safe landing in Guadalajara. After his arrest, the plane resumed its journey to Tijuana without further issues.
The incident highlights ongoing security concerns in Guanajuato, the flight’s origin point, a region heavily affected by cartel-related violence, including extortion and kidnappings.