One arrested at Vancouver airport after climbing fence and accessing aircraft

RICHMOND — The Vancouver Airport Authority says a person has been taken into custody after climbing a fence and gaining access to the airport’s secure area near the terminal.

The authority says it’s now reviewing security measures with the RCMP, who earlier said that a person had been arrested and was in police custody after they “accessed an aircraft without authorization.”

Richmond RCMP say in a news release that officers were called to the airport at about 4 a.m. Monday, and that the response involved “specialized police resources” as well as staff at the airport.

But they did not provide details about the security breach, citing the ongoing investigation.

The airport authority says the situation was contained within minutes and airport operations were not affected.

Vancouver International Airport’s flight information system showed few delays and no cancellations in the hours after the incident.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2026.

The Canadian Press