United Airlines Flight 1681 departed Harry Reid International Airport at 10:15 pm on Oct. 24, bound for Newark Liberty. 150 people boarded, including a 25‑year‑old man named Dante Milne.
A flight‑attendant noticed Milne text‑ing a message that read, “Gonna hijack this plane… crash ur row only,” and immediately alerted the captain. The pilot sealed the cockpit, initiated a lockdown, and the crew flew in loops to burn fuel before returning.
The aircraft landed safely at 11:05 pm local time; no injuries were reported. The captain told ATC, “We went into lockdown and returned to Vegas.”
Las Vegas Police detained Milne after a report of “terroristic threats.” He was charged with making a threat related to terrorism, posted a $10,000 bond, and is due in court Tuesday.
The diversion forced United to reschedule Flight 1681 for the next day. A passenger in the back row later said, “I felt so relieved it landed safely.”
United Airlines released a statement saying the return was a precautionary measure to address a potential security concern. The airline has not indicated any further policy changes.