A routine domestic flight operated by Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris took a dramatic turn of events yesterday when a passenger attempted to have the plane diverted to the US. This prompted the service to land en route in order for the offender to be arrested, before continuing to its final destination with a considerable delay. Let’s take a closer look at how exactly these dramatic circumstances played out, and what is known about the alarming incident.
Unsuccessful diversion attempt
As reported yesterday by CBS News, the service in question was Volaris flight Y4-3041 from Bajío International Airport (BJX) to Tijuana International (TIJ). Tracking data from Flightradar24 shows that this flight, which connects central Mexico to the far northwest of the country, operates on a daily basis in the early hours of the morning, departing at 02:56 local time and generally using Airbus A320-200s.
Yesterday, the flight took off more than four hours late, at 07:17 local time. However, this delay would go on to almost double amid a dramatic sequence of onboard events. Specifically, a passenger onboard the flight is reported to have forcibly attempted to have the flight diverted across the border to the neighboring United States of America. They did not succeed in their endeavors, as Volaris confirmed:
“The crew acted in accordance with established security procedures and, as per protocol, the plane was diverted to Guadalajara, where the airline placed the passenger at the disposal and custody of the authorities.”
Lengthy delays
The exact motive for the passenger’s actions remains unclear, although The Mirror notes that, according to security services, the 31-year-old man was reportedly facing death threats. It was clearly a pressing matter, as the dramatic sequence of events, which allegedly saw the man (identified as ‘Mario N’) assault a flight attendant and attempt to storm the cockpit, occurred relatively early in the flight.
Photo: Eliyahu Yosef Parypa | Shutterstock
Indeed, Flightradar24 shows that the flight had only just reached its cruising altitude before turning around over central Mexico to divert to Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport (GDL). The service touched down at this facility at 08:03 local time, just 46 minutes after its initial departure from Bajío. Here, the Mexican National Guard arrested the man, with the airline noting that:
“Volaris has been appointed as the plaintiff to ensure that the defendant faces the full weight of the law, and to the fullest extent. All passengers and crew onboard the aircraft are safe. The remaining passengers were able to continue their flight to their final destination.”
Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock
While, as Volaris notes, the flight was able to resume its journey to Tijuana, the dramatic diversion to Guadalajara only worsened its already considerable delay. Indeed, according to timings made available by Flightradar24, the aircraft was on the ground for almost four hours, only becoming airborne once again at 11:46. It reached Tijuana at 12:19 local time, some eight hours and 10 minutes late.
The aircraft involved
The plane operating Volaris flight Y4-3041 yesterday amid the dramatic circumstances of the diversion was an Airbus A320-200 bearing the registration N526VL. Data from ch-aviation shows that this twin-engine narrowbody is 9.86 years old, and has been serving Volaris for its entire career since joining the airline in February 2015, including a brief stint at Volaris Costa Rica in 2016 and 2017.
N526VL, which has 179 economy seats onboard, is one of 43 Airbus A320-200s currently present in the Volaris fleet. The Mexican low-cost carrier also has a single A319-100 at its disposal, as well as 51 A320neos (with 24 more on order), 10 A321-200s, and 32 A321neos (with 108 more on order). This will likely have been one of its more dramatic flights, but safety is paramount, as the airline concludes:
“Volaris regrets the inconvenience caused by this situation. The safety of our passengers and crew is the highest priority.”
