Passenger attempts to divert Mexican flight to US by force

A passenger on a domestic flight in Mexico attempted to divert the plane to the US by force on Sunday, according to Volaris, one of the country’s main airlines.

The crew was able to detain the passenger while the flight, which was originally going to the city of Tijuana, on the border with San Diego, was diverted to Guadalajara in central Mexico, Volaris said in a statement.

The passenger was handed over to authorities in Guadalajara. No injuries were reported.

“All passengers, crew and aircraft are safe. The rest of the passengers are safe and continued their flight to their final destination,” Volaris said in the statement. The company added that it will pursue legal action against the passenger.

The passenger, detained by the National Guard and handed over to the Attorney General’s Office, is a 31-year-old Mexican man who was traveling with his wife and two children, according to a government statement. He told the Volaris crew that he had received death threats and would be in danger if he went to Tijuana.

“I want to acknowledge and thank the bravery and commitment of our team, who protected the well being of everyone on board,” Volaris CEO Enrique Beltranena said in a post on X.