A domestic flight in Mexico was disrupted on Sunday when a passenger attempted to hijack the plane and redirect it to the United States. The individual, a 31-year-old Mexican citizen known only as Mario, assaulted a flight attendant and tried to gain access to the cockpit to alter the plane’s course. This information was released in a statement by the Mexican Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection.
The flight crew promptly intervened, restraining the suspect while the pilot issued an emergency code and safely landed the plane at the International Airport of Guadalajara in central Mexico. The flight, operated by Volaris, had initially taken off from the El Bajio airport in Leon, with Tijuana as its intended destination.
Volaris confirmed that the passenger had engaged in a physical altercation with a flight attendant and attempted to breach the cockpit. Once the plane was grounded, the suspect was handed over to the authorities. It remains unclear whether the individual was armed at the time of the incident. He was traveling with his wife and two children.
Volaris CEO Enrique Beltranena addressed the incident in a statement, saying, “Today we faced an exceptional situation on Volaris flight 3041, which was covering the El Bajío – Tijuana route. A passenger tried to divert the aircraft to the United States.” He praised the crew’s professionalism and swift response, which allowed for the activation of established security protocols and the diversion of the flight to Guadalajara airport.
According to airline personnel, the suspect claimed that a family member had been kidnapped and that he had received death threats warning him against traveling to Tijuana after the flight had departed. This information was relayed by the SSPC.
Volaris expressed regret over the incident and assured that the safety of passengers and crew is a top priority. “All passengers, crew and aircraft are safe,” the airline stated. After the suspect was removed, the flight continued to its original destination of Tijuana without further incident.
Volaris has taken legal action to ensure that the passenger is held accountable under the law, as stated in their official communication.