It’s safe to say that making jokes about hijacking a plane while on a plane is never okay, even when they’re made in a private text exchange between friends.
A 25-year-old man on board a United Airlines flight leaving from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, was arrested after allegedly sending a disturbing text to a friend. A flight attendant saw the message and immediately cautioned the pilot, who then returned to the Las Vegas airport safely. The man was met and arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police.
What Caused a United Airlines Flight Carrying 150 Passengers to Immediately Turn Around?
According to the New York Post, 25-year-old Dante Milne forced a United Airlines passenger plane to turn around Saturday night, October 24, after a flight attendant saw him texting about allegedly planning to hijack the plane.
The outlet reported that Milne’s text allegedly read, “I’m gonna hijack this [expletive] and crash ur row only,” as the plane was making its way from Las Vegas to Newark. The specific plane was a Boeing 737, carrying 150 passengers and six crew members.
After the flight attendant saw the text, she alerted the pilot, who turned the plane around, forcing it back to Vegas just 15 minutes into the flight. According to Local SYR, audio of a member of the cockpit crew could be heard telling Air Traffic Control, “The passenger does not know anything is going on. 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.”
Milne was not approached about his alleged text while in flight and was later met by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, who were waiting for him. He was arrested and “charged with charged with one count of making threats or conveying false information concerning act of terrorism.”
He was later released on $10,0oo bail and is due in court on January 5, where he plans to enter a not guilty plea.
Dante Milne’s Alleged Hijack Message Was ‘Banter Between Coworkers”
According to News 3 LV, after police officers detained Milne at the airport, he told them that he had “beer and shots” before the flight. He also called the alleged text a “banter between coworkers” and did not have any plans to hijack the aircraft.
“Milne acknowledged the seriousness of the aircraft returning to Las Vegas and expressed remorse,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said.
According to The NY Post, Milne was sending the text to someone who was also on the flight, and admitted that he didn’t recall what the messages were about.
The 25-year-old was heading home to New Jersey after a three-day trip to Vegas for a work apprenticeship training program for underwater welding. It’s unclear whether the arrest will affect his job.
Passenger Says Hijacking Text That Forced United Flight to Turn Around Was Just ‘Banter’