'I have a bomb': Panic on US flight as passenger tries to storm cockpit
A United Airlines flight was forced to deal with a security threat after a passenger claimed to have a bomb and attempted to breach the cockpit. The suspect was arrested upon landing in New Orleans, and no injuries were reported.
Why it matters
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of aviation security and the protocols used to manage in-flight hijacking threats.
Panic erupted aboard a United Airlines flight bound for New Orleans after a passenger claimed he had a bomb and attempted to storm the cockpit, prompting pilots to issue a hijacking alert.The flight, United Airlines 2174, was carrying 46 passengers and six crew members when it departed Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey at around 9.30pm on Monday. The Boeing 737 was headed to New Orleans when the pilots alerted air traffic control to an attempted breach of the cockpit, triggering a Level 4 threat alert, the highest aviation security warning used in hijacking situations.The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office identified the passenger as 34-year-old Rony Gomez-Alberto, a New York resident.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in