Passenger arrested after text about hijacking forces flight to return to Las Vegas
The short version
- A United Airlines flight bound for Newark Liberty International Airport was forced to return to Las Vegas shortly after takeoff.
- A flight attendant reported seeing a passenger send a message threatening to hijack the plane.
- The passenger, identified as Dante Milne, was arrested on suspicion of making threats or conveying false information.
- Milne told police the message was banter with a co-worker and denied any intent to harm anyone.
- Cockpit audio captured the pilot explaining the diversion while Milne allegedly slept.
What we don’t know yet
- The final outcome of the legal proceedings against the passenger.
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Coverage compared
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How coverage grew
First reported by The Daily Wire Suspected Terrorist Arrested After United Flight Attendant Spots Hijacking Text On Passenger’s Phone
CBS News United flight diverted after flight attendant spots passenger texting about hijacking
New York Post United flight forced to turn around midair after crew member spotted horrifying text on passenger’s phone
Fox News Major airline delays 150 passengers overnight following serious in-flight threat
All 18 articles
- CTV News, centreA ‘hijack’ text caused a plane to turn back. The sender says it was co-worker banter, police say
- Daily Mail, right-leaningUnited passenger who spooked Las Vegas plane into turning around with hijacking text claims missive was just ‘banter between coworkers’
- CTV News, centreMan whose ‘hijack’ text caused plane to turn back said it was banter with co-worker, police say
- Toronto Star, left-leaningMan whose ‘hijack’ text caused plane to turn back said it was banter with co-worker, police say
- Daily Mirror, left-leaningUnited passenger claims ‘hijacking’ text which forced plane’s U-turn was ‘just banter’
- Fox News, right-leaningMan accused of threatening to hijack United flight says it was a drunken joke
- New York Post, right-leaningUnited passenger who forced Newark-bound flight to return to Vegas over ‘hijacking threat’ has boozy explanation
- Daily Mail, right-leaning‘Gonna hijack this plane... will crash your row only’: Terrifying texts spotted by United flight attendant that saw Newark-bound plane return to Vegas
- Daily Mirror, left-leaningUnited flight forced to turn around midair after horrifying text on passenger’s phone spotted
- New York Post, right-leaningNew details emerge after United ‘hijacking’ threat — as 25-year-old suspect’s chilling messages are revealed