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United Airlines flight forced to return midair after crew member discovers disturbing message on passenger’s phone
A United Airlines flight was forced to turn back midair after a crew member discovered a disturbing message on a passenger’s phone.
United flight 1681, a Boeing 737 carrying 150 passengers and six crew members, was traveling from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on October 24.
Shortly after takeoff, a crew member reported a "potential security concern" that prompted the pilot to abandon the journey and return back to Las Vegas.
According to CBS News, a flight attendant reportedly saw a traveler "texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft".
Pilot reveals disturbing discovery to air traffic control
Audio from communications between the pilot and air traffic control revealed how the crew responded to the suspected threat.
"They called me. We went into lockdown, and we returned to Vegas," the flight’s pilot told an air traffic controller.
When the controller asked whether the passenger was cooperative or under restraint, the pilot said that there was "no restraint" because "he’s unaware".
Per Las Vegas Review-Journal, flight tracking data showed that the plane originally departed Harry Reid at 10:37PM on Saturday night before crossing the Arizona border.
But instead of continuing to Newark, it looped around and headed back to Harry Reid International Airport.
Passengers were removed from the flight, and the aircraft underwent an inspection. They were then placed on an alternative flight, which departed from Harry Reid International Airport Sunday morning.
The identity of the passenger has not been released, and authorities have not confirmed whether the reported message was a hijacking threat.
The FAA will continue to investigate the incident.
American Airlines flight diverted after passenger allegedly threatens crew
The United Airlines incident came just two days after a separate American Airlines flight was forced to return to Miami International Airport (MIA) after a passenger allegedly threatened a flight attendant shortly after takeoff.
The plane was on its way to Georgetown, Guyana, from Miami on Thursday (October 22).
"American Airlines Flight 339 returned safely to Miami International Airport around 7PM local time on Thursday, Oct. 22, after the crew reported a passenger disturbance," the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement cited by PEOPLE.
CBS News reported that the incident took place as the aircraft was still ascending.
Radio transmissions said the man allegedly "rushed the flight attendants in the back of the aircraft" during the ascent, and audio recordings also captured the alleged threat he made.
"I guess the exact words were, 'I will take care of you when we land in Guyana,' but in a very threatening manner," a crew member said.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed it arrived at the scene at MIA to investigate after receiving a report of a flight attendant being assaulted by a passenger.
"The investigation revealed the passenger and flight attendant were involved in a verbal dispute and no assault was committed," the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The passenger was escorted off the aircraft "without incident" once the plane returned to the gate. He was later rebooked on another flight.