United Flight 1681 passenger says 'hijack' text was drunk banter with a coworker, plans not-guilty plea

New details are coming out about the passenger at the center of the United Airlines Flight 1681 scare. The 25-year-old man accused of writing a “hijack” message that sent a Newark-bound jet back to Las Vegas on Saturday night told police he had been drinking and was joking with a coworker. According to an arrest report cited by the New York Post and Fox 5 Vegas, he never meant to take over the plane.

He has been charged with one count of making threats or conveying false information concerning an act of terrorism. His lawyer told a judge on Tuesday, Oct. 27, that he plans to plead not guilty, according to News 3 LV as cited by the Post.

What the passenger told police

The New York Post identified the man as Dante Milne, 25, a trainee welder from Wood-Ridge, New Jersey. Citing his arrest report, the Post and Fox 5 Vegas reported that:

• He said he had a beer and some shots at the airport bar before boarding.
• He at first told investigators he had texted someone else on the plane but didn’t remember what the messages said.
• Asked directly about the hijack comment, he called it poorly worded “banter between coworkers.”
• He said he fell asleep after takeoff and only learned the plane was heading back to Las Vegas when he woke up.
• He said he never meant to take over the plane and was sorry about what happened.

He told detectives he was flying home after a three-day trip to Las Vegas for an apprenticeship training program in underwater welding, the Post reported.

The criminal complaint quotes the message as saying he was “gonna hijack” the plane and “crash ur row only,” according to the Associated Press and The Independent. The complaint itself did not say how the message was sent or to whom, The Independent noted.

How a flight attendant spotted the message

The scare began in the cabin. In air traffic control audio obtained by ATC.com and reported by People, a pilot told controllers: “The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft and called me and we went lockdown.” The pilot added that the passenger was “compliant because he’s unaware” that anything was going on.

People also reported that the pilot said the Boeing 737 was “grossly overweight” for landing, and flight paths showed the jet made two loops to burn fuel before it returned to Harry Reid International Airport. Reports differ slightly on timing. The Post said the plane was back on the ground at 11:05 p.m. local time, about 15 minutes after takeoff, while People, citing flight records, said it turned around less than 20 minutes after departure.

Las Vegas police were waiting on the tarmac and arrested the man, who had not been confronted on board, the Post reported. Everyone got off, the plane was inspected and no one was hurt.

Key facts at a glance

United said the flight returned “to address a potential safety concern.” The flight was delayed overnight because the crew timed out, and it left for Newark on Sunday morning, according to People.

Part of a bigger problem in the air

The case comes as unruly passenger incidents stay in the news. The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating the Flight 1681 incident and has logged more than 1,400 unruly passenger incidents so far in 2026, The Independent reported.

Even a message meant as a joke can trigger a full security response once a crew member sees it. In this case, a single text led to a cabin lockdown, an unplanned landing, a police response on the runway and an overnight delay for about 150 travelers.

What happens next

Milne is due back in court on Jan. 5, according to the Post. Neither he nor his lawyer, James Gallo, responded to the Post’s requests for comment. The charge is an accusation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

FAQ

Earlier coverage: United flight 1681 returns to Las Vegas after passenger allegedly wrote he would 'hijack' the plane (Oct 26)