A United Airlines flight carrying dozens of passengers was thrown into a frightening security emergency Monday night after a man allegedly claimed to have a bomb and attempted to force his way into the cockpit, prompting pilots to transmit a hijacking alert.
The incident unfolded aboard United Airlines Flight 2174, which departed Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey around 9:30 p.m. Monday, bound for New Orleans.
The aircraft was carrying 46 passengers and six crew members when the confrontation occurred.
According to information provided by United Airlines and aviation content creator Aaron Rheins, the flight crew reported an attempted cockpit breach after a passenger began behaving erratically.
The situation escalated when the individual allegedly claimed to possess an explosive device.
Pilots subsequently contacted air traffic control and transmitted a hijacking-related distress alert, signaling a potentially serious threat aboard the aircraft.
Despite the alarming circumstances, the crew managed to contain the situation.
Audio communications reviewed by Rheins indicated that the passenger was detained in the rear section of the aircraft, allowing the flight to continue toward its destination.
Authorities later identified the suspect as 34-year-old Rony Gomez Alberto, a New York resident.
According to local authorities cited by NOLA.com, Gomez had been behaving irrationally before falsely informing crew members that he was carrying a bomb.
The alleged threat and attempted cockpit intrusion prompted an immediate security response.
However, the incident did not result in the aircraft being diverted to another airport.
Instead, the flight continued to Louisiana, where law enforcement officials were prepared to respond upon its arrival.
United Airlines confirmed the incident to the New York Post and said members of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department met the aircraft after it landed at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
A spokesperson for the airline confirmed that the plane arrived safely at approximately 11:15 p.m.
All 46 passengers and six crew members reached their destination following the emergency.
Gomez was taken into custody after the aircraft landed, according to local authorities.
He now faces criminal charges stemming from the alleged threats made during the flight.
According to NOLA.com, the 34-year-old was charged with communication of false information of planned arson and terrorizing.
Authorities reported that Gomez was being held without bail at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center.
The incident raises serious concerns about aviation security, particularly when passengers make threats involving explosives or attempt to enter restricted areas of an aircraft.
The cockpit is among the most sensitive areas of a commercial airliner, with access tightly controlled to protect the pilots and passengers.
An attempted breach can trigger emergency procedures even when an individual has not demonstrated the ability to take control of the aircraft.
In this case, the flight crew’s hijacking alert reflected the seriousness of the reported threat.
The available information does not indicate that Gomez successfully entered the cockpit or gained control of the aircraft, per the New York Post.
Authorities also described his bomb warning as false.
The incident nevertheless created a potentially dangerous situation aboard a commercial flight traveling between two major American cities.
For the passengers aboard Flight 2174, what began as a routine Monday evening departure from Newark quickly became an unexpected security emergency.
The crew’s response, combined with the intervention of law enforcement after landing, brought the confrontation to an end without a reported disruption to the aircraft’s arrival.
Investigators have not publicly detailed what prompted Gomez’s alleged behavior or whether additional charges could follow.
For now, the suspect remains in custody as authorities address the criminal allegations arising from the incident.
The flight’s safe arrival in New Orleans marked the conclusion of a frightening episode that began with a reported bomb threat and an attempted breach of the cockpit thousands of feet above the ground.
