United jet lands back in Vegas after man threatens crew
A 25-year-old man was arrested Saturday night after a Newark-bound flight returned to Las Vegas less than an hour into its journey.
By Luca Harrison ·
United Airlines turned a jet around and landed it back at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas after a passenger made a terroristic threat. The flight, carrying 150 people, had departed for Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday night. It touched down again less than an hour later.
Las Vegas police detained a 25-year-old man from the plane. They charged him with making a threat or providing false information regarding an act of terrorism. Authorities did not release specific details about what the man said or did. The Federal Aviation Administration told reporters that flight crew members reported a passenger disturbance during the initial leg of the trip.
United Airlines confirmed the return was necessary to address a potential security concern. The airline stated the aircraft landed safely. The flight did not leave for Newark that night. Instead, it waited on the ground until Sunday morning, when it finally departed for its destination.
The man's attorney did not return requests for comment immediately following the arrest. His first court appearance is set for Tuesday. The FAA said it will look into the incident as part of its standard review process for in-flight disturbances.
In an email to The Associated Press, the FAA noted that 2026 has already seen more than 1,400 incidents involving unruly passengers. The agency is tracking these events as part of its ongoing monitoring of passenger behavior on commercial flights.
