United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to New Jersey turned back after flight attendant spotted message on passenger's phone: I'm going to hijack this plane
A United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to New Jersey was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing this past weekend after a flight attendant spotted a threatening message on a passenger's phone screen.
Flight 1681 had taken off from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas bound for Newark Liberty International Airport. The Boeing 737 was carrying 150 passengers and six crew members when the incident occurred.
The New York Times has now reported further details of the incident. According to the police complaint, the passenger, Dante Milan, a 25-year-old underwater welding apprentice from New Jersey, typed a message on his mobile phone during the flight that read: "I'm going to hijack this plane and crash just your row." He sent the message to a work colleague seated in a different row on the aircraft.
A flight attendant on board noticed the alarming text on Milan's phone screen and immediately reported it to the captain. According to reports, the attendant followed strict security protocols, choosing not to confront the passenger directly or raise alarm among the other passengers. Instead, she went straight to the cockpit to inform the pilots of what she had seen.
The flight crew made an immediate decision to declare an emergency, lock the cockpit door, and execute a turnaround back to Las Vegas. The flight landed back at the airport approximately 15 minutes after takeoff.
When the aircraft touched down on the runway, a large contingent of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police was waiting. Milan, who had fallen asleep immediately after sending the message and woke to find the plane had turned around, was not confronted during the flight itself. He was arrested by officers the moment the aircraft came to a stop on the tarmac. All passengers were safely evacuated from the plane, and after a thorough security inspection, authorities determined there was no actual threat and no injuries had occurred.
During police questioning, Milan claimed he had no intention of harming the flight or carrying out an attack. He said he had drunk a beer and several alcohol chasers at an airport bar before boarding, and that the text message he sent to his work friend was simply "bad humor and a joke between friends." He expressed deep regret for his actions and for the panic he had caused.
Milan has been charged with conveying false information and threats to commit an act of terrorism. Following his arrest, he was released on $10,000 bail from the Clark County Detention Center. His attorney stated that his client intends to plead not guilty to the charges, and he is scheduled to appear in court for a hearing early in the new year.
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