Crime & Courts

Minnesota man faces charges for diverted United Airlines flight

A 54-year-old Minnesota man has been charged with making threats as well as property crime in relation to a flight between Denver and Anchorage that was diverted to Vancouver, British Columbia, on Friday.

Nicholas Michael Aliksyuk, of Duluth, Minnesota, faces charges of "uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm" and mischief to property valued over $5,000, according to Cpl. Dennis Hwang, media liaison officer for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Aliksyuk was arrested and remains in custody in Canada, Hwang said in an email.

United Airlines previously said a "threatening message" prompted the plane to divert to Vancouver. When the plane landed around 4:20 a.m., a sizable police presence met Aliksyuk and took him into custody, Vancouver International Airport officials said.

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