A United Airlines flight bound for New Jersey returned to Las Vegas after an alleged hijacking attempt.
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A keen-eyed flight attendant noticed that a passenger aboard the United Flight 1681 was sending alarming messages about taking over the plane.
Instead of engaging with the passenger, the attendant alerted the pilot.
"The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft. They called me. We went into lockdown. And we returned to Vegas," the flight's pilot told an air traffic controller shortly after the plane took off, reported CBS News.
The pilot also informed air traffic control that the passenger was not under restraint since he was unaware that the crew member was privy to his plan.
"United Airlines Flight 1681 returned safely to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Around 11:05 p.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 24, after the crew reported a passenger disturbance," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
Before circling back to its origin, the flight, which the pilot described as "grossly overweight," was forced to loop around twice to burn fuel.
Overweight landings can put additional strain on the landing gear and structural components of the aircraft. To prevent possible damage, aircraft will occasionally dump gasoline or fly longer to burn off fuel before making an unexpected landing.
Man Arrested After Threatening to Hijack Plane
When the plane returned to Sin City, all passengers were removed from the aircraft as authorities conducted an inspection. The Boeing 737 flight was carrying 150 passengers and six crew members.
Dante Milne, 25, was arrested on suspicion of making threats or conveying false information concerning acts of terrorism, according to PEOPLE. He was later booked in the Clark County Detention Center, the outlet reported.
A spokesperson for LAS confirmed to PEOPLE no injuries were reported following a "potential safety concern."
Due to the disturbance, passengers stayed at Harry Reid International Airport overnight. They were placed on an alternative flight, which departed on Sunday morning.
Milne posted $10,000 bond and faces a potential sentence of one to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, October 27, to face allegations regarding the incident.
