A United Airlines flight bound for New Jersey returned to Las Vegas Saturday night after a flight attendant discovered a passenger texting threats to hijack the aircraft, prompting a careful response that kept the suspect unaware until law enforcement could intervene on the ground.
United Flight 1681 departed Harry Reid International Airport at approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday with 150 passengers and six crew members aboard, headed for Newark Liberty International Airport. During the flight, a crew member allegedly observed 25-year-old Dante Milne texting about plans to hijack the Boeing 737.
The flight attendant immediately reported the matter to the cockpit. What followed was a textbook example of crisis management at 30,000 feet. The pilots made the decision to return to Las Vegas without alerting the suspect, maintaining the appearance of normal operations while coordinating with air traffic control.
“The passenger does not know anything is going on. The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft. They called me. We went lock down and we returned to Vegas,” one of the pilots communicated to air traffic control, according to recordings of the exchange.
The pilot emphasized the strategy of keeping the situation calm. “So no restraint, the passenger is compliant because he’s unaware,” he explained to controllers.
The aircraft landed safely at 11:05 p.m. Saturday evening. Law enforcement officers were positioned at the gate, ready to take Milne into custody at the pilots’ request.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed the arrest, stating that officers detained Milne without incident on charges of making threats or providing false information related to an act of terrorism. He was subsequently booked into the Clark County Detention Center.
“On October 24, 2026, LVMPD officers responded to Harry Reid International Airport regarding a person who made terroristic threats on a flight. Because of this, the airplane turned around and landed safely back in Las Vegas. Officers detained the individual without incident,” the department said in a statement.
United Airlines confirmed that the incident delayed the flight overnight. The aircraft departed for Newark the following morning with the remaining passengers who had been stranded by the diversion.
The airline declined to provide additional specifics about what the flight attendant observed on Milne’s phone, citing the ongoing investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation into the incident. “United Airlines Flight 1681 returned safely to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas around 11:05 p.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 24, after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The FAA will investigate,” the agency stated.
The incident raises questions about aircraft security in an era when potential threats can be identified through means beyond traditional surveillance. It also demonstrates the importance of alert crew members and coordinated responses between flight crews and law enforcement on the ground.
For the 149 other passengers aboard that flight, what began as a routine cross-country journey became an unexpected overnight stay in Las Vegas, though the professional handling of the situation ensured their safety throughout.
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