United plane lands back in Vegas after passenger threat

A 25-year-old man was arrested in Las Vegas on charges related to a terroristic threat made aboard a United Airlines flight. The incident occurred on a Saturday night redeye service heading to Newark, New Jersey. Las Vegas police detained the man shortly after the aircraft touched down.

According to Flightradar24 data, the plane returned to the airport less than an hour after departing. United Airlines confirmed that 150 passengers were on board when the jet landed safely. The airline stated the return was necessary to address a potential security concern. The flight was held overnight and took off for Newark on Sunday morning.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the flight crew had flagged a passenger disturbance. Police charged the man with making a threat or providing false information regarding an act of terrorism. Authorities did not immediately release details about the specific words spoken or actions taken by the passenger.

An attorney listed for the defendant did not return a request for comment. The man’s initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday. The FAA confirmed it will investigate the event.

In an email to The Associated Press, the FAA noted that it has recorded over 1,400 unruly passenger incidents in 2026 so far.