One person has been arrested after a small passenger aircraft was allegedly hijacked on Tuesday and landed at Vancouver International Airport, Richmond RCMP has said.
The incident, according to RCMP, occured at 1.10pm PT, after receiving reports of a Cessna 172 operated by Victoria Flying Club, had been “hijacked” from Vancouver Island and was entering YVR airspace.
By 1:45 p.m., police said the plane landed safely, and one person who was the the only person on the plane, was arrested.
The situation warrranted the diversion of nine incoming flights to other airports and flights were grounded at YVR for about half an hour during the incident, which to airport officials was a security incident.
According to the YVR head of communications, Stephen Smart, Nav Canada implemented the temporary halt to operations after a small private aircraft was seen circling in the airspace near the airport.
One of the eye witnesses, Paul Heeney was driving towards 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.
“A few minutes later, we saw a second pass … the plane was making a big clockwise circle,” Smart said.
Police say their investigation is ongoing and no further details can be released at this time.
Upperhill News 
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