A United Airlines flight carrying 52 people triggered a frightening midair security alert after a passenger allegedly claimed to have a bomb, prompting pilots to transmit an emergency code associated with aircraft hijackings.
The terrifying incident unfolded Monday night, November 9, aboard United Flight 2174, a Boeing 737 MAX 9 traveling from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Louisiana.
According to authorities, a 34-year-old male passenger began behaving erratically and allegedly told flight attendants he had a bomb aboard the aircraft.
As the situation escalated, pilots transmitted the emergency transponder code 7500, which signals unlawful interference with an aircraft, including a possible hijacking.
The rarely used code alerts air traffic controllers to a serious security threat without requiring pilots to announce the situation over the radio.
Flight tracking reports indicate the aircraft was descending toward New Orleans when the emergency code was activated.
Even more alarming, aviation reports described a message allegedly transmitted by the crew indicating an attempted Level 4 security breach, the most serious category of onboard security incidents.
“We had an attempted level four, no other details are known at this time,” the message reportedly stated.
A Level 4 threat involves an attempted or actual breach of the aircraft’s cockpit, raising concerns that someone may have tried to gain unauthorized access to the flight deck.
However, neither United Airlines nor law enforcement has publicly confirmed that the passenger attempted to enter the cockpit.
Despite the alarming circumstances, the pilots safely landed the aircraft at its scheduled destination in New Orleans.
The flight was carrying 46 passengers and six crew members.
Law enforcement officers were waiting when the aircraft arrived, and passengers were escorted off the plane and transported to the terminal.
Deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office took the 34-year-old suspect into custody without further incident.
The man was subsequently transported to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, where he was booked on charges of terrorizing and communicating false information about a planned act of arson.
United Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement.
“United flight 2174 from Newark to New Orleans landed safely following a disruptive incident involving a passenger onboard,” the airline said. “Law enforcement met the aircraft upon arrival.”
Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether any explosive device was discovered or disclosed what prompted the man’s alleged statements.
The suspect’s identity has not been released, and investigators have not provided additional details about his behavior before the reported threat.
No injuries were reported.
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