A New Jersey man was charged with making a threat involving an act of terrorism after allegedly sending threatening messages from a United Airlines flight bound for Newark on Saturday, authorities confirmed.
Federal officials said the 25-year-old passenger, Dante Milne, was taken into custody following the incident, which prompted the aircraft to return to Las Vegas and delayed the flight overnight. The arrest was made by federal authorities in Las Vegas, with Milne subsequently released on bail.
The alleged threats were discovered 13 minutes into the flight, when a flight attendant noticed messages sent by Milne. The crew alerted the captain, who secured the cockpit and diverted the Boeing 737 back to Harry Reid International Airport, landing at approximately 11:05 p.m. local time.
Milne’s alleged messages, cited in an arrest report, included the phrase: ‘I’m gonna hijack this b---- and crash ur row only.’ The recipient of the messages was not identified in available reports. The flight attendant did not engage Milne but reported the incident to the cockpit, which then notified air traffic control. A pilot’s recording noted that Milne was ‘unaware’ of the situation.
Upon landing, law enforcement met the plane, and Milne was taken into custody without incident. All 149 passengers were evacuated, and the aircraft was thoroughly inspected. The flight was delayed overnight due to the crew exceeding their mandated operating hours, with the plane departing for Newark the following morning.
Milne was charged with one count of making threats or conveying false information concerning an act of terrorism, according to court records. An arrest report indicated that Milne told investigators he had consumed alcohol at an airport bar before boarding the flight. He described the messages as poorly worded banter with a coworker and claimed he had no intention of carrying out the threat. Milne reportedly apologized for the incident during questioning.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the investigation was led by federal authorities, though no additional details about the agency’s role were provided. United Airlines declined to comment beyond its prior statement that the flight was delayed due to crew operating hours.
Bail conditions for Milne included a requirement to avoid further legal trouble, according to local reports. The case is ongoing, with no additional updates available as of publication.