Plane diverted after 16-year-old attacks family member on Air Canada flight, police say

A plane traveling across North America Wednesday was diverted after a passenger reportedly attacked a family member mid-flight, police said.

According to a news release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Air Canada Flight 137 was traveling from Toronto to Calgary when the melee broke out.

About 12:20 p.m. local time, police said, the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport received a report of a flight diversion to Winnipeg due to "an unruly passenger on board who had assaulted a passenger."

An investigation by officers found a 16-year-old boy from Grande Prairie, allegedly assaulted a man on board who was later identified as a family member. The teen's hometown is a city in northwest Alberta.

"Airline employees and passengers were able to restrain the youth following the assault," police wrote in the release.

Teenager arrested after plane diverted to Winnipeg

The Calgary bound flight was then diverted to the Winnipeg airport where officials say police arrested the teenager.

The teen's relative, police said, was treated on scene for "minor physical injuries."

The teen was also taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation, police said.

No other injuries were reported and a motive in the assault was not immediately known.

Paste BN has reached out to Air Canada.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.