United Passenger Faces Felony Charges After Sending Joking Hijack Text

A United Airlines flight was forced to return to Las Vegas after a passenger sent a text message mentioning 'hijack', causing a stir among crew members and passengers alike. The sender, Dante Milne, described the text as playful banter between colleagues, but the situation escalated quickly once the message was spotted by the lead flight attendant shortly after takeoff. ¹²

The incident unfolded on a United Airlines flight bound for Newark, New Jersey, where Milne, a 25-year-old resident of Las Vegas, was returning from a three-day training program. According to reports, Milne had consumed alcohol before boarding the flight and was reportedly asleep during part of the journey. ²³

Upon reaching 10,000 feet, the captain was informed of the situation, leading to the decision to divert the flight back to Las Vegas. This diversion caused significant disruption for other passengers, who were likely unaware of the playful nature of the message that prompted the change in plans. ²

Milne, now facing felony charges for making a threat related to terrorism, has stated that he will plead not guilty to these charges. His lawyer emphasized that the text was intended as lighthearted banter and did not pose any real danger. ²³

This case highlights the potential for misunderstandings and the swift actions taken by airline staff to ensure safety. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, where jokes about hijacks or bombs have led to flights being diverted, underscoring the cautious approach taken by airlines to such messages. ²

What we know

• A text message mentioning 'hijack' caused a United Airlines flight to return to Las Vegas. ¹²
• The sender described the text as playful banter between colleagues. ¹²³
• The flight was diverted back to Las Vegas due to the text. ¹²
• The person who sent the text message is facing felony charges. ²³
• The incident occurred on a United Airlines flight bound for Newark, New Jersey. ²
• Dante Milne was arrested and charged with making a threat related to terrorism. ²³
• The flight originated from Las Vegas. ¹²
• The sender of the text message claimed they had been drinking. ¹²
• Milne had consumed alcohol before the flight. ¹²
• The text was seen by the lead flight attendant after takeoff. ²
• The captain was informed once the plane reached 10,000 feet. ²
• Milne was in Las Vegas for a three-day training program. ²
• Milne was asleep during part of the flight. ²
• The flight returned to Las Vegas while Milne was still sleeping. ²
• Similar incidents involving joking about hijacks or bombs have happened before. ²