Overview
- A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying about 150 passengers turned back to Las Vegas after a flight attendant saw a passenger sending messages that reportedly referenced hijacking the plane.
- The flight crew locked the cockpit and coordinated with air traffic control while the aircraft burned off fuel for a safe return, then landed and was met by law enforcement.
- Las Vegas police detained a 25-year-old identified in reports as Dane or Dante Milne and charged him with making terroristic threats or conveying false information; he posted a $10,000 bond and was released pending court.
- A criminal complaint, as reported, quotes messages such as “gonna hijack this” and threats to ‘crash ur row only,’ and authorities found no injuries after a full inspection of the aircraft.
- The FAA is investigating the incident as part of growing scrutiny of unruly and threatening passenger behavior, and passengers were rebooked the next morning after the crew timed out of duty limits.