Suspect sought after taxi stolen at knifepoint from B.C. airport

The Prince George RCMP detachment is seen in this photo from its Facebook page. (Facebook/PrinceGeorgeRCMP)

Mounties in northern British Columbia are searching for a suspect who allegedly stole a taxicab at knifepoint near the Prince George International Airport on Christmas Day.

Police say the carjacking occurred just after 11 p.m. on Dec. 25, when the taxi passenger pulled a knife on the driver and demanded to be driven out of the province.

The taxi driver got out of the vehicle in front of the airport before the suspect climbed into the driver's seat and drove away, the Prince George RCMP said in a statement Friday.

The orange taxi was later found crashed into a ditch, however the suspect had already fled the scene and remains at large, police said.

"Thankfully, the driver of the taxi was unharmed in the incident," Cpl. Jennifer Cooper said in the statement.

Investigators are now looking to identify the suspect, however police did not provide a description of their appearance.

The incident is similar to one reported in August, in which a 29-year-old man was charged with a violent carjacking at the Prince George airport.

Witnesses told police they saw the man force two seniors out of a parked car, injuring both of them, before speeding away and crashing the vehicle near the airport.

Anyone who witnessed the Dec. 25 incident or who has dash-camera video of the taxi arriving or leaving the airport is asked to contact the Prince George RCMP's non-emergency line at 250-561-3300.