A United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Newark was diverted on October 24 after a passenger allegedly made terroristic threats, leading to the arrest of 25-year-old Dante Milne and an FAA investigation.
The Incident and Immediate Response
The flight, United 1681, was diverted shortly after takeoff due to a potential security concern,
as reported by United Airlines. LVMPD officers responded to the airport after the passenger allegedly made threats, prompting the plane to return to Las Vegas. According to air traffic control audio obtained by Fox News, a pilot confirmed the passenger was compliant or restrained
and unaware of the situation. The flight attendant had reportedly seen the passenger texting about planning to hijack the aircraft, leading to a lockdown procedure.
The plane landed safely in Las Vegas at 11:05 p.m. on October 24, but the crew faced a delay due to “crew timeout,” forcing the flight to depart for Newark the following morning. The FAA confirmed it is investigating the incident, while the airline stated the diversion was necessary to address the security concern. Milne, who posted a $10,000 bond, is scheduled for a court appearance on October 27.
Previous Similar Incident
United Airlines has not disclosed the specific nature of the security concern but reiterated its commitment to passenger safety in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Key Details and Next Steps
Milne’s arrest followed an investigation by LVMPD, which confirmed the passenger made terroristic threats on a flight.
The airline’s statement noted the flight was delayed overnight due to crew timeout, a factor that contributed to the extended delay before the plane could resume its journey to Newark. The FAA’s investigation is expected to determine whether regulatory violations occurred during the incident.
Authorities have not yet released further details about Milne’s alleged actions or the communication between the crew and air traffic control during the diversion.