The Newshound

United Airlines passenger whose 'hijack' text forced a Las Vegas flight to turn back claims it was 'banter between coworkers'

A flight attendant on United Flight 1681 spotted a passenger texting about hijacking the aircraft; the Boeing 737 looped twice to burn fuel before landing back at Las Vegas.
A flight attendant on United Flight 1681 spotted a passenger texting about hijacking the aircraft; the Boeing 737 looped twice to burn fuel before landing back at Las Vegas.

Dante Milne, 25, an underwater welder from Woodridge, New Jersey, faces a felony terrorism threat charge after his text message — 'I'm gonna hijack this b\*\*\*h and crash ur row only' — forced United Airlines Flight 1681 to turn back to Las Vegas within 20 minutes of takeoff on Saturday. His attorney James Gallo says Milne intends to plead not guilty, with the defence arguing the message was drunken workplace humour sent to a colleague he had met at a welding apprenticeship programme.

Milne told police he had downed beer and shots at Harry Reid International Airport's bar before boarding and was asleep when the plane turned around.

A flight attendant spotted the incoming message on the recipient's phone — beginning 'I'm gonna hijack' — and alerted the captain once the aircraft passed 10,000 feet, per standard protocol.

The Boeing 737 was carrying 150 passengers and six crew on the Las Vegas-to-Newark route when it diverted; Milne was arrested the following day on a felony charge.

MoreDaily Mail NewsUnited passenger who spooked Las Vegas plane into turning around with hijacking text claims missive was just 'banter between coworkers'The IndependentMan whose 'hijack' text caused plane to turn back said it was banter with co-worker, police sayDaily RecordUnited Airlines passenger claims hijack text was drunken 'banter' after flight turned backPeopleUnited Passenger Who Allegedly Sent Text Claiming He Would ‘Hijack’ Plane Told Police He Drank Beer and Shots Before Boarding
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →