Man arrested after trying to divert Mexico-bound flight to US

Image from video reportedly shows a man grappling with other passengers and crew aboard the Airbus A320 plane which had to make an emergency landing at Guadalajara International Airport about 45 minutes into the flight. Photo / via X

A 31-year-old man has been arrested after attempting to redirect a domestic flight in Mexico to the United States while it was en route, according to authorities.

The Airbus A320 plane was bound for the northwest city of Tijuana from the central city of Leon, Guanajuato on Monday, but had to make an emergency landing at Guadalajara International Airport about 45 minutes into the flight.

“A subject assaulted a flight attendant and attempted to enter the cockpit to divert the flight to the United States,” a statement from the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection said.

Passengers aboard the Airbus A320 plane. Photo / via X

However, crew members were able to subdue the man — who was reportedly travelling with family — and issued an alert to conduct an emergency landing in Guadalajara.

A report from flight operator Volaris said: “The aggressor told them a close relative had been kidnapped and, upon taking off from Leon, was threatened to be killed if he went to Tijuana”.

Neither statement detailed how many other passengers were aboard the flight.

#ULTIMAHORA Momento exacto en que varios pasajeros sometieron y calmaron a Mario "N".
Quería secuestrar el avión de Volaris y llevarlo a Estados Unidos, con el pretexto de que en México, debido a la violencia, "ya es imposible vivir".
En Guadalajara, el ejército ya lo estaba… pic.twitter.com/fYVQGRD9mg

— ALEX MONDAY (@AMBcancun) December 8, 2024

After the arrest, the flight resumed its journey to the original destination of Tijuana.

Guanajuato is one of the states hit hardest by drug cartel violence, which has grown to include crimes including extortion and kidnapping.

- Agence France-Presse