Full Breakdown
Passenger’s Threatening Text Forces United Flight to Return to Las Vegas
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event: Threat Text Leads to Immediate Diversion
A United Airlines flight bound for Newark turned back to Las Vegas after a flight attendant spotted a text reading, “I’m gonna hijack…,” sent from seat 10C. The sender, 25-year-old Dante Raymond Milne of Woodridge, New Jersey, was arrested on a charge of making a terrorist threat. The aircraft returned to Harry Reid International Airport after passing the 10,000-foot altitude threshold, following sterile-cockpit procedures.
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Background & Context: History of In-Flight Threat Jokes
Similar incidents have occurred in recent years, including a 2022 Chicago passenger arrested for a bomb joke, a 2017 Turkish Airlines diversion over a Wi-Fi hotspot named “bomb on board,” and a 2023 Allegiant Air emergency landing after a passenger claimed his laptop was a bomb. Industry sensitivity remains high after a recent FlyDubai co-pilot axe attack.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
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Timeline
- Boarding: Milne exchanged texts with a passenger in seat 37D.
- Takeoff: United flight departed Las Vegas on a Saturday night.
- Threat detected: About 13 minutes after liftoff, a flight attendant reported the message.
- Crew notification: After 10,000 feet, the captain was briefed and followed security protocols.
- Diversion: The pilot informed ATC of a security concern and turned the plane back.
- Arrest: Police escorted Milne and the other passenger off the aircraft upon landing.
- Legal processing: Milne was booked, posted a $20,000 bail bond, and entered a not-guilty plea.
- Court scheduling: He is set to appear the first Tuesday of the new year.
- Resumption of service: Crew rest requirements delayed the next departure; the flight left for Newark the following morning.
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Data & Statistics
- Passengers: 149
- Seat locations: Milne 10C; other passenger 37D
- Bail: $20,000
- Crew impact: Mandatory rest period caused a delay
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Official Statements & Responses
- Pilot: Reported no restraint was needed for the passenger.
- FAA: Confirmed an ongoing investigation.
- United Airlines: Said the aircraft was inspected before the next departure.
- Attorney James Gallo: Will plead not guilty and is evaluating the case.
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Why It Matters
The diversion highlights airlines’ zero-tolerance policy for language that could be seen as a security threat and shows how a single text can trigger extensive protocols, arrests, and operational disruptions.
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Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on how the threatening text was transmitted, and the recipient’s identity was not disclosed. The pilot’s report described the passenger as “compliant,” but details on further verification of the messages remain unclear.