A United Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey, to New Orleans, Louisiana, was forced to issue a hijacking alert after a passenger allegedly claimed to have a bomb and attempted to storm the cockpit, according to authorities.
The passenger, identified as 34-year-old Rony Gomez Alberto, was taken into custody after the aircraft landed safely at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Monday night.
The incident unfolded aboard United Airlines Flight 2174, which departed Newark International Airport at approximately 9:30 p.m. with 46 passengers and six crew members on board. According to reports, the pilots alerted air traffic control to an attempted breach of the cockpit after Alberto allegedly behaved irrationally and falsely informed the crew that he had a bomb.
Air traffic control audio reportedly indicated that the passenger, who authorities said spoke very little English, was restrained at the rear of the aircraft as the situation developed. The flight crew’s decision to declare an emergency prompted an immediate response on the ground.
The aircraft touched down safely in New Orleans at about 11:15 p.m., where officers from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office were waiting to receive it. United Airlines confirmed the incident on Tuesday, stating that the sheriff’s office met the aircraft upon arrival.
Alberto was subsequently taken into custody and charged with communicating false information about planned arson and terrorising, according to local publication NOLA.com. He is currently being held without bail at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Centre.
The frightening episode highlights the serious consequences of making threats aboard commercial aircraft, where crew members are trained to treat any claim of a bomb or hijacking as a genuine emergency until proven otherwise. The swift response from both the flight crew and law enforcement ensured that no passengers or crew members were harmed during the ordeal.
The incident comes just weeks after another passenger, 25-year-old Dante Milne, was arrested over an alleged threat to hijack and crash a United Airlines flight travelling to New Jersey. Milne, a trainee welder from Woodridge, allegedly sent a threatening text message while aboard the October 24 flight from Las Vegas.
According to a criminal complaint, a flight attendant noticed him typing the message, which read, “I’m gonna hijack this bitch and crash ur row only.” The threat prompted the aircraft to return to Harry Reid International Airport approximately 15 minutes after take-off.
Milne reportedly told police he was drunk and had been joking with a friend, describing the message as poorly worded banter between co-workers. Despite his claims of jest, the disruption caused by the message resulted in a significant security response and the diversion of the flight.
Both cases underscore the heightened vigilance of airline crews and law enforcement when it comes to threats made in the air. Passengers who make comments or gestures that suggest a threat to aircraft safety can expect to face serious legal repercussions, regardless of whether the threat is intended as a joke.
Authorities have not released further details about the investigation into Monday’s incident, and it remains unclear whether Alberto has entered a plea or secured legal representation. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to handle the case, while United Airlines has expressed its cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
The safe landing and arrest mark a tense but resolved conclusion to a flight that could have ended far differently, serving as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining order and security aboard commercial aircraft.
