Security on our skies just got a serious reality check. A United Airlines flight heading to Newark had to turn around and land back in Las Vegas after a passenger sent chilling texts about hijacking the plane. This isn’t some movie plot; it’s a real threat that forced 150 passengers into a lockdown mid-flight on Saturday night.
The suspect, 25-year-old Dante Milne, allegedly typed that he was “gonna hijack this” plane and threatened to “crash ur row only.” The crew spotted the messages, hit the panic button, and the pilot had no choice but to reverse course. It’s a scary reminder that anyone can board a plane with bad intentions, and the system has to react fast.
The Flight Turned Back
United Airlines Flight 1681 took off from Harry Reid International Airport with 150 people and six crew members on board. Shortly after leaving the ground, a flight attendant saw Milne typing these explicit threats on his phone. Instead of confronting him directly, the crew followed protocol and alerted the cockpit immediately.
The pilot confirmed the lockdown and the return to Las Vegas in air traffic control audio. “The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft. They called me. We went into lockdown, and we returned to Vegas,” the captain said, according to the New York Post. On Saturday, Oct. 24, at approximately 11:05 p.m. local time, Vegas safely received the plane back.
Suspect Released on Bond
Following arrest and booking at the Clark County Detention Center, Dante Milne encountered felony charges concerning an act of terrorism. Pending a scheduled court appearance on Tuesday, he was released after posting a $10,000 bond according to court records. He showed “no restraint” because “he’s unaware,” according to the pilot’s report to controllers.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the return of the flight after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. All passengers and the aircraft underwent a comprehensive inspection before anyone could move on. The alternative flight for the stranded travelers departed Sunday morning, but the stress of the night clearly lingered.
We love our city, and we want to get there safely. This incident shows that the threat is real, and the response has to be swift. You don’t mess with a plane, and you don’t mess with New Yorkers who are just trying to get home. The fact that a 25-year-old thought he could get away with this is unacceptable.
Security protocols worked here, but the fact that someone felt comfortable typing these threats in the air is disturbing. We need to make sure that people like Milne face real consequences, not just a slap on the wrist.
This is opinion and commentary from the RapForMayor team.
