Published on : 27 Oct 2026
TRENDING: A UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT FROM LAS VEGAS TO NEWARK TURNED BACK ON SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER A FLIGHT ATTENDANT ALLEGEDLY SAW A PASSENGER TEXT THAT HE WOULD “HIJACK” THE PLANE. A 25-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS ARRESTED AND IS DUE IN COURT TODAY, OCTOBER 27. NO ONE WAS HURT. HERE IS WHAT IS CONFIRMED.
Published: October 27, 2026 | Source: Fox News, ABC7 New York, Hoodline (citing the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Fox5 Vegas), FAA
United Airlines Flight 1681, a Boeing 737 carrying 150 passengers and six crew, left Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Saturday October 24 for Newark and returned to Las Vegas within about an hour. No injuries were reported. The man arrested has not been convicted of anything, and everything about him below is an allegation.
| Time (Sat Oct 24, Las Vegas) | What was reported |
|---|---|
| 10:37pm | Flight pushed back from the gate (Las Vegas Review-Journal, via Casino.org). Takeoff about 10:52pm |
| Shortly after takeoff | A flight attendant allegedly saw a passenger texting that he would hijack the plane. The pilot told air traffic control, and the crew went into lockdown |
| ~11:05pm to 11:36pm | Reports differ. Fox says the plane landed at about 11:05pm. Casino.org says it turned around at about 11:05pm, landed at about 11:36pm and reached the gate at 11:42pm |
| After landing | Police removed the passenger in handcuffs. Officers detained him without incident (Casino.org) |
| Overnight | The crew “timed out” under legal duty-time limits, so the flight was delayed overnight |
| Sunday morning | Passengers were rebooked, and the flight departed for Newark |
Cockpit audio reported by Fox indicates the passenger was unaware the text had been seen, and was not restrained during the flight. A pilot also said the aircraft was “grossly overweight” and burned off fuel before landing. FlightAware data showed two loops before the return.
What this was not: reports describe a threat in a text message. They do not describe a weapon, an attempt to enter the cockpit or any physical attack.
United said the flight “safely returned to Las Vegas to address a potential security concern” and was “delayed overnight due to crew timeout.” It has not said what the concern involved, and referred questions to Las Vegas police.
| Situation | What generally applies |
|---|---|
| Cancelled flight | You are entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel on the rebooked flight (DOT rules) |
| Significant delay or change | You may be able to ask for a refund if the change is significant. Check the DOT’s refund rules and the airline’s contract of carriage |
| Overnight delay | US law does not require cash compensation for delays. United’s customer commitments may cover meals or a hotel in some cases. Ask and keep receipts |
| Rebooking | Ask the airline to rebook you on the next available flight, including other airlines if the policy allows |
| Insurance and credit cards | Many trip delay benefits kick in after a set number of hours. Keep boarding passes and receipts |
| Canada, UK, Australia | Rights depend on your ticket and departure point. A flight that never touches Canada, the UK or the EU is generally outside APPR, UK261 or EU261. Check your booking |
✓ Check your flight status in the airline app before leaving for the airport ✓ Keep boarding passes, receipts and screenshots after any delay ✓ Ask the airline for rebooking, meals and a hotel in writing ✓ Check your card’s trip delay benefit ✓ Follow crew instructions, and report anything suspicious to a flight attendant ✓ Do not joke about security threats
Posted By : Vinay
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on information available at the time of publication. Travel advisories, airline schedules, airport operations, visa requirements, government regulations, and other travel-related information are subject to change without prior notice. While Travel Tourister makes reasonable efforts to verify information using official announcements, government publications, airline and airport communications, and other reliable sources, we cannot guarantee that all information remains complete, accurate, or up to date at all times. Readers should independently verify any information that may affect their travel plans with the relevant airline, airport authority, government agency, embassy, or other official source before making travel, financial, or other decisions. Travel Tourister shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss, inconvenience, or damages arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this article. Nothing in this publication constitutes legal, immigration, financial, or professional travel advice. If you believe any information in this article is inaccurate or outdated, please contact our editorial team. We review all credible correction requests promptly and update our content whenever appropriate.
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