Traveller reveals new details of alleged hijacking that grounded flights at YVR
A traveller at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has shared new details about the alleged hijacking of a small aircraft that forced a temporary ground stop on Tuesday afternoon.
According to a YVR spokesperson, a security incident took place at the airport shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, involving a small private aircraft in the airspace near YVR.
Reddit user SynSyx told Daily Hive that they were at the main terminal waiting for an international departure when a friend who worked in air traffic control alerted them to the situation.
SynSyx/Supplied
“I was at the bag drop, and we were trying to see if our plane was at the gate yet. That’s when he noticed the airport was in a ground stop,” they said.
“At that point, he started listening to LiveATC, where you can hear the live radio of the airport and pilots, and shared that there was a ‘suspect aircraft circling over the airport, intentions unknown.'”
After dropping off their luggage and going through security, SynSyx headed towards Gate E76, where they noticed that the Cessna had landed nearby and was surrounded by the authorities.
“The Cessna was already stationary on the taxiway, and there were about eight police and security vehicles behind it. Some of my later pictures have as many as 14 vehicles in the vicinity,” they explained.
A YVR spokesperson previously issued a statement to Daily Hive stating that the ground stop for arrivals lasted 39 minutes, with nine inbound aircraft diverted to alternate airports.
SynSyx/Spplied
Richmond RCMP also provided more information about the incident on Tuesday afternoon, noting that around 1:10 p.m., officers received a report that a Cessna 172, a small passenger aircraft, had been hijacked from the Vancouver Island area and was entering an airspace near YVR.
The pilot of the aircraft was the sole occupant onboard.
“Richmond RCMP, along with the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service, the Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team, and RCMP Air Services were immediately deployed,” stated authorities in a news release, adding that the investigation is active and ongoing.
“Communication was established with YVR Emergency Operation Center to ensure a coordinated response focused on the safety and security of all involved.”
The hijacked plane landed safely at Vancouver International Airport at 1:45 p.m., and Richmond RCMP officers arrested the suspect without incident.
The individual also shared that they may have been one of the few travellers aware of the ongoing security incident outside the airport on Tuesday.
“I did not personally hear or see any announcements about delays. I seemed to be the only person interested in observing the incident, so I suspect other travellers may not have even been aware.
“Before arriving at the gate, I did check the board to see if there would be delays or cancellations because at that time, I assumed the Cessna was still in the air.”
Daily Hive has reached out to Richmond RCMP for updates on the ongoing investigation.