United Passenger Arrested for Threatening to Hijack Flight from Vegas

On Saturday night, Oct. 24, United Flight 1681 was turned around mid-flight from Las Vegas to New Jersey after a flight attendant noticed one of its passengers allegedly texting about hijacking the flight. On Monday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) identified the passenger as Dante Milne, 25.

Milne was arrested on suspicion of making a threat to an act of terrorism. Court records indicate he was booked into the Clark County Detention Center, posted a surety bond of $10,000, and is due in court on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The Fright Stuff

United 1681, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, pushed back from the gate at Harry Reid International Airport at 10:37 p.m. local time Saturday and took off at approximately 10:52 p.m., headed for Newark Liberty International Airport with 150 passengers and six crew on board.

Shortly after departure, a flight attendant alerted the cockpit after allegedly seeing Milne text a message indicating an intention to hijack the plane.

According to air traffic control audio reported by multiple news outlets, the flight crew immediately initiated security procedures and restricted access to the cockpit while evaluating the situation.

“The passenger doesn’t know anything is going on,” the pilot told air traffic controllers. “The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft.”

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 had climbed to approximately 24,000 feet and had crossed into northwestern Arizona when the concern was reported. The crew elected to discontinue the flight and return to Las Vegas.

Air traffic control granted the aircraft priority handling after the crew declared an emergency and transmitted the 7700 emergency transponder code, a standard signal used to indicate a general emergency.

The aircraft turned around at about 11:05 p.m. local time, touched down at approximately 11:36 p.m., and reached the gate at 11:42 p.m. without incident. All passengers were escorted off the plane—Milne in handcuffs. LVMPD said officers detained the individual without incident.

United said the flight was delayed overnight due to crew timeout and departed for Newark the following morning.

The FAA’s investigation of the incident remains ongoing.

The incident underscores the aviation industry’s continued zero-tolerance approach toward potential threats, even when no overt attempt to interfere with a flight has occurred. Security protocols require crews to treat statements suggesting hijacking or terrorism as credible until investigated by authorities, a precaution that can trigger diversions, emergency declarations and law-enforcement responses.