World · North America · 2 hrs ago
Passenger charged after hijacking text sends United flight back to Las Vegas
A United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Newark returned to the airport after a passenger sent a text threatening to hijack the plane.
The passenger, 25-year-old Dante Milne of New Jersey, had sent the message to a colleague on board after drinking beer and shots at the airport.
A flight attendant saw the message and alerted the crew, who followed security procedures and informed the captain.
Milne was arrested and charged with making a threat or giving false information in an act of terrorism after the plane landed back in Las Vegas.
He told police he did not intend to hijack the aircraft or harm anyone, and his lawyer says he plans to plead not guilty.
Milne described the message as banter between coworkers, and police say he expressed remorse for the flight having to turn back.
He has since been released on bail, and the case will proceed in court.
A United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Newark returned to Las Vegas after a passenger sent a text threatening to hijack the aircraft.
Dante Milne, 25, was arrested after the plane landed and charged with making a threat or offering false information in an act of terrorism.
Milne told police he did not intend to hijack the plane, crash it or harm anyone.
His attorney said on Tuesday that Milne intends to plead not guilty.
Milne said he had been drinking beer and shots before boarding the flight.
- Who
- Dante Milne, a 25-year-old passenger from New Jersey, was charged.
- What
- A text he sent threatening to hijack the aircraft led the flight to return to Las Vegas.
- When
- Saturday; his attorney said on Tuesday that he intends to plead not guilty.
- Where
- On United Airlines Flight 1681, traveling from Las Vegas to Newark, New Jersey.
- Why
- The crew treated the text as a potential security threat and the plane returned to Las Vegas.
Prosecutors
Dante Milne
Threat and intent
Prosecutors
Milne was charged over a text threatening to hijack the plane.
Dante Milne
Milne denied intending to hijack the aircraft, crash it or harm anyone.
Meaning of message
Prosecutors
The text was treated as a potential security threat, prompting the flight to return.
Dante Milne
Milne characterized the wording as poorly stated and said it was banter between coworkers.
Milne sent the text while aboard United Airlines Flight 1681.
A flight attendant noticed the message, and the crew reported it to the captain after the aircraft passed 10,000 feet.
The flight returned to Las Vegas, where federal authorities confronted Milne and took him into custody.
Milne's attorney told a judge that Milne intends to plead not guilty.
- Passenger
- Dante Milne, 25
- Flight
- United Airlines Flight 1681
- Route
- Las Vegas to Newark, New Jersey
- Charge
- Making a threat or offering false information in an act of terrorism
- Return
- The aircraft returned to Las Vegas after the crew reported the text threat
What people are saying
I'm gonna hijack this b***h and crash ur row only.
Milne intends to plead not guilty in the case
Passenger does not know anything is going on.
No restraint. Passenger is compliant because he is unaware.