In a dramatic turn of events, a domestic Mexican flight turned into a tense ordeal on Sunday morning as a passenger attempted to hijack the plane and divert it to the United States, according to airline officials.

The incident occurred aboard a Volaris flight traveling from El Bajío Airport in León to Tijuana. Midway through the journey, a passenger identified by Mexican authorities as 31-year-old Mario, reportedly assaulted a flight attendant and made a frantic attempt to enter the cockpit. His goal: to force the plane to change course and head to the U.S.

Mario, described as a Mexican national traveling with his wife and two young children, claimed he had received a chilling death threat before takeoff, warning him against continuing to Tijuana. According to a statement from Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Mario also alleged that a close family member had been kidnapped, adding to the desperation behind his actions.

Flight crew acted swiftly, restraining the suspect as the pilot initiated an emergency protocol. The plane made an unscheduled but safe landing at Guadalajara International Airport, where local authorities took Mario into custody.

“The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority,” Volaris stated in a release following the incident. “All passengers, crew, and the aircraft are safe. We regret the inconvenience caused by this situation.”

Passengers described a tense but controlled scene. “He seemed desperate, but the crew handled it calmly,” one traveler shared anonymously.

Watch the footage below:

Authorities are investigating whether Mario was armed during the ordeal. However, no injuries were reported, and the remaining passengers resumed their journey to Tijuana without further incident.

This harrowing event underscores the challenges faced by airline staff in ensuring safety at 30,000 feet. While rare, incidents of in-flight disturbances continue to remind the aviation industry of the importance of rigorous training and preparedness.