UPDATE:  The United Airlines passenger accused of texting terroristic threats on a plane from Las Vegas to New Jersey told police it was just “banter between coworkers,” according to documents obtained by KLAS-TV/Las Vegas.

Dante Milne, 25, of Clifton, New Jersey, told police he had met the recipient of his texts during a three-day underwater-welding apprenticeship program in Las Vegas and was texting him the threats in jest. Milne failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing Oct. 27, and the case was continued until Jan. 5, 2027.

EARLIER: A United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to New Jersey was forced to turn around Saturday night after a flight attendant spotted a passenger allegedly texting about hijacking the plane. On Monday, Las Vegas police identified the suspect as 25-year-old Dante Milne of Clifton, New Jersey.

Milne was arrested on suspicion of making a threat to commit an act of terrorism. Court records indicate he was booked into the Clark County Detention Center, posted a $10,000 surety bond, and is scheduled to appear in court today (Oct. 27).

Mid-Air Emergency

United Flight 1681, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound for Newark Liberty International Airport with 150 passengers and six crew members on board, pushed back from the gate at Harry Reid International Airport at 10:37 p.m. local time Saturday and took off at 10:52 p.m.

Shortly after departure, a flight attendant alerted the cockpit after allegedly seeing Milne text a message indicating an intent to hijack the plane.

According to air traffic control audio, the flight crew immediately initiated security protocols and restricted cockpit access while evaluating the threat.

“The passenger doesn’t know anything is going on,” the pilot told air traffic controllers. “The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft.”

The aircraft had climbed to approximately 24,000 feet and crossed into northwestern Arizona when the threat was reported. The crew elected to abort the flight and return to Las Vegas.

Air traffic control granted the aircraft priority handling after the crew declared an emergency and squawked transponder code 7700, the standard signal for a general emergency.

Aftermath

The aircraft turned back around 11:05 p.m. local time, touched down at 11:36 p.m., and arrived at the gate at 11:42 p.m. without further incident. All passengers were deplaned—with Milne escorted off in handcuffs. LVMPD confirmed officers detained him without incident.

United stated the flight was delayed overnight due to crew duty-time limits and departed for Newark the following morning.

The FAA’s investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

The disruption underscores the aviation industry’s strict zero-tolerance policy toward security risks.

Standard protocols dictate that flight crews treat any statement referencing hijacking or terrorism as a credible threat until fully vetted by law enforcement—a precaution that routinely triggers immediate air diversions, emergency declarations, and police intervention.