A passenger aboard Volaris flight 3041 was arrested Sunday after attempting to forcibly redirect the aircraft from its scheduled route between El Bajío and Tijuana to the United States, airline officials said.
The incident prompted an emergency landing at Guadalajara International Airport, where authorities took the disruptive passenger into custody. Mexican officials, speaking to ABC News, revealed the passenger was traveling with his wife and two children at the time of the incident.
According to authorities, the passenger claimed he was acting under duress, stating that a relative had been kidnapped prior to takeoff. He reportedly told airline crew members he was attempting to avoid landing in Tijuana due to death threats he would face upon arrival.
“The crew acted according to established security procedures and, according to protocol, the plane was diverted to the airport in Guadalajara, where the airline turned the passenger over to the custody of competent authorities,” Volaris said in an official statement.
The Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) confirmed that Mexico’s National Guard was notified of the situation. The aircraft successfully completed an emergency landing “without incident” at Guadalajara International Airport, the agency reported.
While the specific nature of force used during the attempted diversion remains unclear, and authorities have not released the identity of the passenger, Volaris confirmed that all passengers and crew members reached their final destination safely.
“Volaris regrets the inconvenience caused by this situation. For Volaris, the safety of our passengers and crew is the highest priority,” the airline stated.
The AFAC has launched an investigation into the incident.
