Las Vegas passenger arrested after texting hijacking threat 13 minutes into United flight

A 25-year-old trainee welder was arrested after allegedly texting a hijacking threat minutes after a United Airlines flight departed Las Vegas.

Thirteen minutes into a United Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Newark on the night of Saturday, Oct. 24, a crew member became aware of a threatening text message — and the pilots turned the plane around. The flight had barely cleared the Las Vegas area when the turnaround was ordered, returning passengers to the gate. Dante Milne, 25, a trainee welder, was taken into custody after the plane landed back in Las Vegas. According to a criminal complaint, Milne allegedly sent a text reading, 'I'm gonna hijack this bitch and crash ur row only.' Milne reportedly offered an explanation rooted in alcohol, suggesting intoxication was behind the message. He was arrested over the weekend and faces charges connected to the alleged threat.

Why it matters

Threatening messages aboard commercial aircraft trigger mandatory security responses that disrupt flights and passengers, and carry serious federal criminal consequences. The case highlights how quickly even a private text can ground a flight when it comes to the attention of airline crew.

What's next

Milne faces criminal charges stemming from the complaint; the case will proceed through the federal or state legal system.

Key facts

• The threatening text was detected approximately 13 minutes after the United Airlines flight departed Las Vegas on Oct. 24
• The flight was bound for Newark, New Jersey when pilots turned it around
• Dante Milne, 25, is described as a trainee welder
• The alleged text read: 'I'm gonna hijack this bitch and crash ur row only'
• Milne was arrested after the aircraft returned to Las Vegas
• Milne reportedly cited alcohol consumption as an explanation for the message

Bias & framing notes

The New York Post emphasized Milne's 'boozy explanation' in its headline, framing the story with a lighter, tabloid tone. Yahoo's headline focused on the dramatic timeline and operational impact on the flight. Both sources agree on the core facts — the text content, the suspect's identity, and the flight details — drawn from a criminal complaint, which is a primary legal document.

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