Flight rerouted after passenger threatened to hijack plane
FILE-A United Airlines Boeing MAX 9 departs from Harry Reid International Airport on March 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - An airplane passenger was arrested after being accused of writing a message that he was going to "hijack" the plane, resulting in a United flight being diverted back to Las Vegas after takeoff on Oct. 24.
The 25-year-old man was arrested on charges of making a threat or providing false information regarding an act of terrorism, which carries a possible sentence of 1 to 20 years in prison, according to The Associated Press.
Passenger threatens to hijack plane
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The man allegedly communicated that he was "gonna hijack this" plane — although he used an expletive — and "crash ur row only," The Associated Press reported, citing a criminal complaint.
Las Vegas police told the AP that they detained the man after a report of an individual making "terroristic threats" on the Saturday night flight that had been headed to Newark, New Jersey.
United confirmed that the flight with 150 passengers on board returned safely to Las Vegas to address a "potential security concern." The flight was delayed overnight and departed for Newark on Oct. 25.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it will probe the incident, explaining in an email to the AP there have been more than 1,400 unruly passenger incidents so far in 2026.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, which cites a criminal complaint, comments from Las Vegas police, and an email from the Federal Aviation Administration. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.