Overview
- United Flight 1681 returned to Harry Reid International Airport soon after takeoff on Oct. 24 when a flight attendant saw a text that began, “I’m gonna hijack,” and alerted the lead crew.
- The full message reported in the police file read, “I’m gonna hijack this” plane — using an expletive — “and crash ur row only,” and the captain was told once the aircraft passed 10,000 feet in line with sterile cockpit procedures.
- Passengers were deplaned and the aircraft was inspected before United rebooked travelers on an alternate flight the next day.
- Las Vegas police arrested 25-year-old Dante Milne and charged him with making a threat or offering false information related to terrorism; he posted $10,000 bail, plans to plead not guilty, and has told investigators the comment was drunken banter.
- The FAA has opened a probe into the incident and airlines say jokes about bombs or hijacking routinely trigger diversions, inspections and arrests, a sensitivity that can cause major delays and regulatory scrutiny of crew and security procedures.