A United flight attendant looked at a passenger’s phone and saw him allegedly texting about hijacking the plane, then the cockpit went into lockdown

United Airlines Flight 1681 returned to Las Vegas after a flight attendant spotted a passenger texting about a plan to hijack the aircraft. This situation forced the flight crew to enter lockdown procedures immediately while they turned the plane around.

As reported by the LADbible, the incident occurred when the flight was heading toward Newark. The flight attendant noticed the message on the passenger’s mobile phone but chose not to speak with the individual directly. 

Instead, the crew member alerted the captain to the situation. The pilot shared details of the event in audio recordings, stating, “The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft,” and added, “We went into lockdown and returned to Vegas.”

Authorities later arrested the man

The flight had been in the air for just over an hour before touching down at Harry Reid International Airport. According to additional audio from ATC, the passenger involved remained unaware that the plane was actively diverting back to its origin point, as he was not approached by anyone during the flight. 

Authorities later arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with the event. He faces accusations of making threats or providing false information regarding acts of terrorism. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently looking into the incident after being notified of a passenger disturbance.

While the details regarding whether the threat was genuine or a hoax remain unclear, the legal consequences for such actions are serious. It is illegal to make false claims about attempts to ‘destroy, damage, or disable’ an aircraft. The US Department of Justice notes that the maximum penalty for statements made with ‘malicious or with reckless disregard for the safety of human life’ includes five years in prison or a $5000 fine.

The passengers eventually reached their destination of Newark on the following day. It is a reminder that flight crews are always watching out for the safety of everyone on board, and they take every potential threat seriously. Dealing with a mid-air emergency like this is incredibly stressful for the staff, and their quick response shows how much training goes into handling these incidents.