A 25-year-old man was arrested after allegedly sending a text message stating he would take over the controls of a United Airlines aircraft flying to Newark, New Jersey, resulting in the plane being redirected back to Harry Reid International Airport shortly after takeoff on Saturday night.
Dante Milne was taken into custody after United Airlines Flight 1681 landed safely. Milne was booked for making threats and disseminating false information regarding an act of terrorism, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the charges.
Milne posted a bail of $10,000 and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, October 27. According to the criminal complaint, Milne messaged that he was "gonna hijack this" plane, using an expletive, and "crash ur row only." The document did not clarify how the message was delivered or who it was intended for.
Air traffic control audio recordings revealed that the incident unfolded roughly 13 minutes into the flight when a flight attendant received the text and relayed it to the cockpit. The pilots chose to monitor the individual rather than confront the threat directly to ensure the safety of the cabin.
Upon returning, the pilots reported the aircraft was "grossly overweight" and requested full runway clearance to burn off fuel. Carrying 150 passengers and six crew members, the flight landed safely about 30 minutes after the emergency began.
No injuries were reported during the incident. United Airlines stated that the flight was delayed overnight due to crew duty time limits and eventually departed for Newark on Sunday morning.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it would investigate the incident, noting that over 1,400 unruly passenger incidents have been recorded so far in 2026. Authorities are currently reviewing digital evidence to determine the motive behind the threat.
Legal experts suggest that while the suspect is out on bail, the severity of the charges regarding aviation security could lead to significant federal sentencing. The airline has also indicated it may place the individual on a permanent no-fly list.
The incident has reignited discussions regarding in-flight digital security and the protocols flight attendants must follow when receiving threats via personal devices. Aviation safety boards are expected to release a full report in the coming weeks.