A United Airlines flight carrying 156 people was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff when a flight attendant reportedly spotted a passenger sending alarming text messages about hijacking the aircraft, prompting an emergency security response and a police investigation.
The frightening incident unfolded Saturday night, October 24, aboard United Flight 1681, which was traveling from Las Vegas to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
The Boeing 737 was carrying 150 passengers and six crew members when a flight attendant noticed what appeared to be a disturbing message on a traveler’s cellphone.
According to air traffic control recordings obtained by CBS News, the flight attendant believed the passenger was texting about plans to take control of the plane.
Rather than confront the individual and potentially escalate the situation, the crew member immediately alerted the pilots.
The cockpit was placed on lockdown, and the captain made the decision to abandon the flight and return to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
In a chilling exchange with air traffic controllers, the pilot explained why the plane was turning around.
“The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft,” the pilot said.
He added that the crew had gone into lockdown and was returning to Las Vegas as a precaution.
When the controller asked whether the passenger had been restrained, the pilot explained that the individual appeared unaware that the crew had detected the message.
That detail suggested the flight attendants had managed to alert the cockpit without creating an obvious confrontation in the passenger cabin.
The aircraft returned safely to Las Vegas late Saturday night, where law enforcement officers were waiting.
No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.
But the investigation soon took another serious turn.
On Monday, October 26, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police confirmed that they had detained a 25-year-old man identified as Dante Milne in connection with alleged threats made aboard the flight.
Milne was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on a terrorism-related charge.
According to local reporting, he later posted bond set at $10,000 and was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, October 27.
Authorities have not publicly established that Milne possessed a weapon or made any physical attempt to seize control of the aircraft.
The investigation centers on the reported threats, rather than a confirmed hijacking attempt.
United Airlines described the incident as a potential security concern and confirmed that the crew chose to return to Las Vegas out of an abundance of caution.
The Federal Aviation Administration also acknowledged the emergency return, initially describing the situation as a passenger disturbance.
Federal aviation officials said they would investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
After the plane landed, passengers were removed from the aircraft while security personnel conducted additional checks.
The interruption created another problem for travelers who had expected to reach the New York metropolitan area early Sunday morning.
Because the emergency return pushed the flight crew beyond federal duty-time limits, United could not immediately resume the journey.
Passengers were delayed overnight before the airline arranged for the flight to depart Las Vegas on Sunday morning.
The aircraft eventually arrived in Newark several hours behind schedule.
The episode highlights the seriousness with which airlines treat potential threats involving commercial aircraft, even when the danger has not been independently confirmed.
Federal aviation rules require crews to follow established security procedures whenever they receive credible information suggesting a possible threat to passengers or the aircraft.
Pilots may choose to return to their departure airport or divert to another suitable location while coordinating with air traffic controllers and law enforcement.
In this case, the crew’s decision allowed the plane to land safely without an apparent confrontation aboard the aircraft.
Investigators are now working to determine the meaning and circumstances of the messages reportedly seen by the flight attendant.
Milne is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and authorities have not publicly disclosed the full contents of the messages.
For the 150 passengers who expected an ordinary overnight flight to New Jersey, the trip instead became a frightening reminder of how quickly an airline journey can change.
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