United Airlines Flight Diverts to Harry Reid International Airport After Hijacking Threat
A scheduled red-eye United Airlines flight carrying 150 passengers from Las Vegas to Newark, New Jersey, returned to Harry Reid International Airport on Saturday night after a 25-year-old passenger sent electronic text messages stating an intent to hijack the aircraft, knpr.org reported. The Boeing aircraft had been airborne for less than an hour when the cabin crew alerted flight deck officers to the security threat, according to The Nevada Globe.
Emergency Landing and Police Response at Harry Reid International Airport
Following the pilot’s decision to declare a security emergency, the aircraft reversed course over the Southwest desert and landed back in Las Vegas. Law enforcement officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and federal counterterrorism agents met the plane on an isolated taxiway perimeter. Authorities removed the 25-year-old male passenger from the cabin without further incident and booked him into the Clark County Detention Center.
Federal Charges and Arraignment Schedule in Las Vegas Justice Court
The suspect faces formal charges of making a threat or providing false information regarding an act of terrorism. According to court filings cited by The Nevada Globe, these felony charges carry a possible sentence of one to 20 years in prison. The man is scheduled for his initial appearance and arraignment before a Las Vegas Justice Court judge on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Passenger Reaccommodation Following Federal Aviation Administration Duty Limits
The unscheduled return caused the flight crew to exceed maximum federally mandated duty-time limits, forcing United Airlines to hold the Newark-bound flight overnight. Specialized explosive detection K-9 teams and security screeners inspected the cabin and personal baggage before passengers were cleared back into the terminal. United Airlines deployed a refreshed flight crew on Sunday morning to complete the journey to Newark Liberty International Airport after mandatory crew rest periods.