A small plane hijack on Vancouver Island led to flight delays and diversions at Vancouver International Airport on Tuesday. Police arrested the only person onboard, and no injuries occurred.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed they received a report about a stolen Cessna 172 flying into restricted airspace near Vancouver International Airport (YVR) at around 1:10 p.m. local time. The aircraft triggered immediate security actions.
Multiple RCMP units, including officers from the Richmond detachment and members of the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, responded quickly. About 35 minutes later, the plane landed safely at the airport. Authorities arrested the suspect without any issues.
Police have not yet revealed why the pilot took the plane or what their goal was. Investigators say the case is still open, and they are reviewing many details. The RCMP added that no further information could be shared for now.
The individual in custody was the only person onboard the aircraft. It has been confirmed that no passengers were involved, and there was no crash or damage during the landing.
Videos shared on social media showed at least five RCMP vehicles surrounding the plane on the tarmac at YVR. One eyewitness said the aircraft was “chased on the runway” by police before the pilot stopped and surrendered.
A spokesperson for Vancouver International Airport confirmed the event caused a temporary “ground stop” for arriving flights. During this period, no national or international flights could land in Vancouver.
The ground stop lasted 39 minutes, during which nine incoming planes were diverted to other airports. By late afternoon, normal flight operations resumed, although some delays continued.
Airport officials noted that airlines and airport staff are working to help affected travelers reach their destinations as quickly as possible. Despite the return to regular operations, travelers were advised to expect some possible delays throughout the evening.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the airport’s official website listed dozens of delayed flights and a few cancellations. Many passengers faced unexpected waiting times or had to reroute their travel plans.
Around the same time, Victoria International Airport also reported an incident. Officials there said the issue involved an aircraft operated by the Victoria Flying Club. While they did not confirm a direct link to the Vancouver hijack, they stated the situation ended safely, and the individual responsible was arrested.
The Victoria airport did not release further details or confirm if the arrested person was the same as the Vancouver suspect. Authorities only mentioned that the matter had been handled securely.
Both incidents are under investigation, and officials are expected to provide more details once they have reviewed all the facts. For now, the focus remains on ensuring airport security and supporting passengers affected by the disruption.
This event marks a rare security breach involving a small aircraft in Canada’s busiest airspace. It raised concerns about airspace safety and emergency readiness. However, thanks to the swift action of law enforcement and airport authorities, the situation ended without harm.
Travelers using the Vancouver airport are advised to check their flight status before heading to the terminal, as residual delays may affect schedules throughout the day.
