Mexican Passengers Subdue Unruly Individual Attempting to Divert Flight to US – Volaris

Passengers on a Volaris flight to Tijuana restrained the unruly man, ensuring everyone’s safety

A passenger on a domestic flight in Mexico attempted to forcibly divert the plane to the US on Sunday, according to Volaris, one of the country’s main airlines. The situation was ultimately brought under control by the collective efforts of the flight’s passengers, who subdued the individual. The cabin remained locked as the pilots opted to prevent the passenger from enter at all costs as this would place the greatest risk on life.

The flight, which was originally en route to Tijuana, near the border with San Diego, was diverted to Guadalajara in central Mexico, where the man was handed over to authorities. No injuries were reported.

“All passengers, crew and aircraft are safe. The rest of the passengers continued their flight to their final destination,” Volaris said in a statement. The company thanked the passengers and confirmed its intent to pursue legal action against the individual.

The suspect, a 31-year-old Mexican man traveling with his wife and two children, claimed he had received death threats and would be in danger if he went to Tijuana, according to a government statement.

The National Guard detained the man and handed him over to the Attorney General’s Office upon the flight’s emergency landing.

“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.

Hoy enfrentamos una situación excepcional en el vuelo 3041 de Volaris, que cubría la ruta El Bajío – Tijuana. Un pasajero intentó desviar la aeronave hacia Estados Unidos, pero gracias al profesionalismo y la rápida respuesta de nuestra tripulación, se activaron los protocolos de…

— Enrique Beltranena (@kikebeltranena) December 8, 2024

Passengers Acted Courageously
Video footage circulating online captured the moment several passengers stepped in to subdue the man, preventing further escalation. The suspect reportedly claimed he could no longer live in Mexico due to violence.

Así fue sometido, por pasajeros, el hombre que iba en el vuelo 3041 de Volaris en la ruta Bajío-Tijuana quien trató de apoderarse de la aeronave para desviarla hacia EEUU pic.twitter.com/UbHDyvdwHN

— Azucena Uresti (@azucenau) December 8, 2024

Upon landing in Guadalajara, military personnel were waiting to take him into custody.

Sources

• Volaris Statement
• Government Reports
• Social Media Updates