Other1 min read

'I have a bomb': Panic on US flight as passenger tries to storm cockpit

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The midair scare unfolded aboard United Airlines Flight 2174, a Boeing 737 carrying 46 passengers and six crew members from Newark Liberty International Airport. After changing into all-black attire and making false bomb claims, the unruly passenger was persuaded by flight attendants to retreat to the rear of the cabin. The aircraft landed safely at its New Orleans destination, where all passengers were evacuated to the terminal. Law enforcement officers subsequently boarded the plane to detain the individual without further disruption.

Key points

  • Crew intervention allowed the pilots to stay protected inside the cockpit and fly the pla…: Crew intervention allowed the pilots to stay protected inside the cockpit and fly the plane safely to New Orleans.
  • Sheriff's deputies boarded the evacuated aircraft upon landing and took the suspect into…: Sheriff's deputies boarded the evacuated aircraft upon landing and took the suspect into custody without incident.
  • The detained passenger was transported to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center follow…: The detained passenger was transported to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center following confirmation of the arrest by authorities.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

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. He allegedly behaved irrationally before falsely claiming he had a bomb. Air traffic control audio revealed that he had changed into all-black clothing before attempting to reach the cockpit.

The flight crew managed to persuade Gomez-Alberto to move to the back of the aircraft, allowing the pilots to remain locked inside the cockpit and continue towards New Orleans.

The aircraft landed safely, after which passengers were evacuated…

Other