A 25-year-old airplane passenger was arrested after allegedly sending a message midair threatening to “hijack” the plane, forcing a United Airlines flight bound for Newark, New Jersey, to turn back to Las Vegas shortly after takeoff on Saturday night.
According to a copy of the criminal complaint, the man communicated that he was “gonna hijack this” plane — using an expletive in the process — and would “crash ur row only.” The document did not specify exactly how the message was sent or to whom it was directed.
Las Vegas police said they detained the man following a report of a person making “terroristic threats” aboard the Saturday night redeye flight. He was arrested on charges of making a threat or providing false information regarding an act of terrorism, an offense that carries a possible sentence of one to 20 years in prison. An attorney listed for the man did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and his initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft returned to the airport less than an hour after departure. United Airlines confirmed that the flight, carrying 150 passengers, landed safely back in Las Vegas so the crew could address a “potential security concern.” The flight was delayed overnight and ultimately departed for Newark on Sunday morning.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it will investigate the incident. In an email to The Associated Press, the agency noted that there have been more than 1,400 unruly passenger incidents so far in 2026, underscoring the ongoing challenge airlines face in dealing with disruptive behavior in the cabin.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/united-flight-diverts-after-passenger-allegedly-threatens-to-hijack-plane-12240208#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-10-27 04:12:00
