TIJUANA- A 31-year-old Mexican passenger traveling with his family dramatically attempted to divert a domestic flight operated by Volaris (Y4) from El Bajio (BJX) to Tijuana (TIJ) to the US on Sunday (December 8, 2024), claiming his life was in imminent danger.
Volaris Airlines confirmed the incident on Flight Y43041, reporting that the passenger used force to compel pilots to redirect the Airbus A320 towards the United States border.
Passenger Tries to Hijack Flight
According to prosecutors, the man escalated his attempt by physically confronting a flight attendant and attempting to breach the cockpit before being restrained by crew members.
The passenger alleged receiving death threats after the flight’s departure, which motivated his desperate bid to change the aircraft’s destination. His chosen route would have taken him from Tijuana, notorious for its high crime rates, where an average of five murders occur daily despite ongoing efforts to combat drug cartels and organized crime.
Volaris Airlines successfully managed a security incident on Flight 3041 by diverting the aircraft to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) following established security protocols. The crew followed standard procedures to ensure passenger safety after the passenger’s disruptive behavior.
No passengers or airline crew sustained any injuries during the incident. The diverted flight resumed its journey to Tijuana just two hours after the emergency landing, minimizing travel disruptions.
Enrique Beltranena, Volaris’ founder and CEO, publicly commended the flight crew for their professional response. “We thank our pilots and flight attendants for their bravery and commitment in protecting everyone on board,” Beltranena stated.
The airline also acknowledged the passengers’ cooperation during the unexpected event. Beltranena expressed appreciation for the customers’ composure and support, officially apologizing for the inconvenience caused by the security incident.
Similar Incidents
Well, such incidents are extremely rare nowadays as compared to the hijack era where you could hear such news almost every day. But still, some people like the above passengers exist and they try to disrupt the operations.
In September 2024, a disruptive easyJet (U2) passenger attempted to storm the cockpit mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing. Passengers reported the man was intoxicated before boarding, suggesting potential pre-flight screening failures.
easyJet responded by immediately grounding the flight, and arranging replacement crew and passenger accommodations. The airline emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for abusive or threatening behavior onboard, highlighting the critical importance of passenger conduct and safety protocols.
In a separate incident, a 19-year-old student pilot, Nathan Jones, was charged with interfering with the flight crew during Alaska Airlines (AS) Flight AS322 from San Diego to Washington Dulles on March 3, 2024. According to court documents, Jones repeatedly attempted to enter the cockpit and intimidated flight crew members and attendants.
On September 8th, 2023 United Airlines Flight UA 1641 from Chicago O’Hare to Los Angeles experienced a significant security breach. A passenger attempted to open the cockpit and emergency exit doors during pre-departure preparations, forcing the Boeing 737 to return to the gate.
Law enforcement officers detained the disruptive passenger, preventing potential escalation of the security threat.
A similar incident occurred in 2021 on a United Airlines/SkyWest flight. The passenger attempted to breach the cockpit after pushback, partially deploying an emergency exit slide.
All Images including the Feature Photo captured by Clément Alloing | Flickr
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