A suspect is in custody after a United Airlines flight from Anchorage, Alaska to Denver, Colo., was diverted to the Vancouver International Airport after “security concerns” early Saturday morning, police said.
United Airlines flight 1104 departed Anchorage a little before midnight, and was set to land in Denver shortly after 6 a.m., local time. It landed in Vancouver shortly after 4 a.m. PT. There were no injuries.
The spokesperson wouldn’t elaborate on the nature of the security concerns, and said Richmond RCMP was responding to the incident.
Five ambulances were called to the airport and remained on the scene as of 7.30 a.m. PT, said a BC Ambulance spokesperson
In a statement, a United Airlines spokesperson said the Boeing 737 was carrying 131 passengers and a crew of six.
The statement said the airline is working to rebook the passengers on other flights and is “co-operating with the authorities.”
There has been no impact to operations at YVR.
CBC News
Passengers of a United Airlines flight are safely inside Vancouver International Airport after their flight was diverted due to what an airport spokesperson is calling, “a security concern.”
Flight number 1104 was en route to Denver, Colorado from Anchorage, Alaska when it was forced to make an unscheduled stop at YVR shortly after 4 a.m. on Saturday.
“The aircraft remains at YVR and the passengers have been escorted into the terminal building,” Lara Gerrits, a YVR spokesperson told The Sun.
Richmond RCMP tweeted that they have a suspect in custody, however, the nature of the security issue that forced the plane to land in Vancouver has not been made public at this time.
We have a suspect in custody. @YVRairport operations unaffected at this time. More information when available.
— Richmond RCMP (@RichmondRCMP) January 9, 2016
All other flights and airport operations are continuing as scheduled, according to Gerrits.
Vancouver Sun