A stolen plane triggered a security incident at Vancouver International Airport on July 15, halting operations as nine flights were rerouted before police apprehended the pilot. (Credit: Azhar Akhtar

Police said they received a report that a Cessna 172 "had been hijacked from the Vancouver Island area and was entering into airspace near Vancouver International Airport."

A Canadian man has been charged with hijacking a small plane this week and flying it over one of the busiest airports in Canada, prompting fears he would crash into something and causing flights to be delayed or grounded.