FAA will investigate amid over 1,400 unruly passenger incidents in 2026
On Saturday night, Las Vegas police arrested a 25-year-old passenger who was on a United flight after the man allegedly wrote, while midair, that he was going to “hijack” the plane, according to a copy of the criminal complaint. The alleged message forced the flight to be diverted back to Las Vegas shortly after takeoff Saturday, and the flight returned to the airport less than an hour after departing, according to Flightradar24 data. United confirmed that the 150 passengers on board returned safely.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it will investigate the incident. In an email to The Associated Press, the agency said there have been over 1,400 unruly passenger incidents so far in 2026.
According to a copy of the criminal complaint, the 25-year-old allegedly communicated that he was “gonna hijack this” plane — although he used an expletive — and “crash ur row only.” The document does not specify exactly how the message was sent or to whom it was directed.
Las Vegas police said they detained the man after a report of a person making “terroristic threats” on the Saturday night flight that had been headed to Newark, New Jersey. He was arrested on charges of making a threat or providing false information regarding an act of terrorism, which carries a possible sentence of 1 to 20 years in prison. An attorney listed for the man did not immediately return a request for comment, and his initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
The scheduled redeye flight returned to the airport less than an hour after departing, according to Flightradar24 data. United confirmed that the flight with 150 passengers on board returned safely to Las Vegas to address a “potential security concern.” The flight was delayed overnight and departed for Newark on Sunday morning.
Associated Press writer Rio Yamat contributed to the report.