The United Crew returned Flight 1681 to Las Vegas on October 24, 2026, after a flight attendant saw a passenger's message that appeared to threaten a hijacking. The Boeing 737 was bound for Newark when the captain received the report and secured the cockpit.
The jet had climbed to about 24,000 feet. The crew did not confront the passenger in the cabin, and the passenger apparently did not know the crew had seen the message.
United described the incident as a “potential security concern.” The aircraft landed safely on Runway 26L at 11:42 PM local time.
The return delayed passengers overnight. A replacement flight left Las Vegas the next morning, while law enforcement inspected the plane and questioned the passenger.
Passengers got lodging and a replacement flight after the crew timed out
The diversion used up the crew’s duty time, delaying the trip until the following morning. Passengers received overnight accommodations in Las Vegas and were placed on an alternative service.
That flight departed at 7:03 AM on Sunday, October 25, and reached Newark more than eight hours late. A spokesperson for Harry Reid International Airport said: “The flight was delayed overnight due to crew timeout and departed for Newark this morning.”
One passenger described receiving a meal voucher, adding, “at least we all got a free meal voucher that expires tomorrow.” The material does not establish a separate compensation payment or describe additional passenger remedies.
The passenger accounts also described an onboard search. One traveler said the captain initially told passengers someone had boarded without a ticket, then said it was a law enforcement situation involving a K9 sweep.
Another passenger said three people left the aircraft in handcuffs. That traveler said officers released two during deplaning and escorted the third away in handcuffs.
The captain turned back without confronting the passenger
The captain told air traffic control that the flight attendant had seen the passenger “texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft.” The pilot added: “They called me, we went in lockdown, and we returned to Vegas.”
The passenger remained unaware of the crew’s concern until officers met the plane after it returned. Police questioned him, and the aircraft underwent an inspection at the airport.
The crew declared a general emergency and transmitted squawk 7700, which gave the aircraft priority handling. It traced a broad U-turn over Oak Grove, Arizona, before turning back toward Las Vegas.
The return posed a landing-weight issue. The plane had been fueled for the nearly six-hour transcontinental flight and still carried about 24,800 pounds (11,249 kg) of fuel, according to the captain.
The 737 cannot dump fuel. The crew flew slower to burn some off and told controllers they might need the full length of Runway 26L.
Cockpit Locked Down as the FAA opened an investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration said the crew documented the occurrence at 11 p.m. Saturday, shortly after departure. The agency opened an investigation, and the potential security concern was referred to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and United.
The flight carried 150 passengers and six crew members. Officers met the plane at the gate, and no injuries were reported.
Police and airport authorities did not disclose the passenger’s identity or the exact wording of the text. No charges had been publicly confirmed at the time of reporting.
The aircraft, registration N17310, was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 delivered to United in 2023. Its two-class cabin was configured to accommodate up to 166 passengers.
The aircraft inspection uncovered no threat. The Las Vegas departure resumed Sunday morning, with Newark passengers arriving more than eight hours behind schedule.
