United Jet Returns to Vegas Over Onboard Security Concern

WHO:

SFGATE - Police detained and arrested a 25-year-old man in connection with the incident.

NY Post - A United Airlines flight crew member reportedly spotted a disturbing text on a passenger’s phone.

FOX5 Vegas - United Flight 1681 carried 150 passengers and 6 crew members.

FOX5 Vegas - United Airlines, Harry Reid International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) were identified in connection with the incident.

WHAT:

SFGATE - The man was charged with making a threat or providing false information regarding an act of terrorism, an offense carrying a possible prison sentence of 1 to 20 years.

SFGATE - A criminal complaint quoted the man as allegedly writing, “gonna hijack this” plane and “crash ur row only”; the complaint did not specify how the message was sent or whom it was directed to.

SFGATE - Police said they received a report of a person making “terroristic threats” on the flight.

SFGATE - The FAA said there have been more than 1,400 unruly-passenger incidents in 2026.

Fox News - United said Flight 1681 “from Las Vegas to Newark on Saturday, Oct. 24” safely returned to Las Vegas to address a potential security concern.

NY Post - A United Airlines flight heading to New Jersey turned around midair after an apparent hijacking threat.

FOX5 Vegas - United Flight 1681 returned safely to Las Vegas after the crew reported a passenger disturbance, which United described as “a potential security concern.”

FOX5 Vegas - No injuries were reported.

FOX5 Vegas - The flight was delayed overnight because of a crew timeout and later departed for Newark.

WHERE:

NY Post - The flight was traveling from Las Vegas to New Jersey before returning to Las Vegas.

FOX5 Vegas - The flight departed from Las Vegas for Newark Liberty International Airport and returned to Harry Reid International Airport.

WHEN:

SFGATE - The passenger’s initial court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday.

Fox News - United identified the flight’s return as occurring on Saturday, Oct. 24.

NY Post - The flight returned on Saturday.

FOX5 Vegas - The flight returned on Saturday night, around 11:05 p.m.

FOX5 Vegas - The flight turned around shortly after takeoff and departed for Newark “this morning.”

WHY:

Fox News - The diversion was attributed to a disruptive passenger; United did not disclose the specific nature of the security concern.

NY Post - The reported reason for the return was an apparent hijacking threat associated with text seen on a passenger’s phone.

FOX5 Vegas - The crew reported a passenger disturbance described by United as “a potential security concern.”

HOW:

FOX5 Vegas - The aircraft was a Boeing 737; it turned around shortly after takeoff and landed safely in Las Vegas.

FOX5 Vegas - The FAA said in a preliminary statement that the flight returned safely and that the agency will investigate.

FOX5 Vegas - Harry Reid International Airport referred further questions to United and LVMPD; FOX5 said it had contacted LVMPD for more information.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 07:17 UTC)

A United flight from Las Vegas to Newark returned safely to Las Vegas after the crew reported a passenger disturbance described by the airline as a potential security concern; no injuries were reported, and the flight later departed for Newark after an overnight delay. Police arrested a 25-year-old man and charged him with making a threat or providing false information about an act of terrorism, after a crew member reportedly spotted a disturbing text on a passenger’s phone. A criminal complaint alleges the message threatened to hijack the plane and crash into the passenger’s row, and the FAA said it will investigate.

(UPDATED October 26, 2026 22:06 UTC)

A United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Newark safely returned to Las Vegas after its crew reported a passenger disturbance and a potential security concern. A crew member reportedly saw a disturbing text on a passenger’s phone, but United did not disclose the specific nature of the concern, and no injuries were reported. The FAA said it will investigate, and after an overnight delay, the flight later departed for Newark.

(UPDATED October 26, 2026 19:23 UTC)

A United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Newark returned safely to Harry Reid International Airport after the crew reported a disruptive passenger and a potential security concern. A crew member reportedly saw a text suggesting a hijacking threat, though United did not disclose the specific concern; no injuries were reported among the 150 passengers and six crew members. The FAA said it would investigate, and after an overnight delay for a crew timeout, the flight later departed for Newark.

(UPDATED October 26, 2026 15:36 UTC)

United Flight 1681, carrying 150 passengers and six crew members, returned safely to Las Vegas after a crew member reportedly spotted a text suggesting a hijacking threat on a passenger’s phone. United described the incident as a potential security concern, and no injuries were reported. The FAA said it will investigate; after an overnight delay caused by crew time limits, the flight later departed for Newark.