The passenger who has been accused of threatening to bomb and attempting to hijack a United flight has been identified. As reported by the New York Post, he had previously been deported from the US.
He was identified as 34-year-old Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto, originally of Honduras. He was reportedly previously arrested by the Border Patrol on several occasions before even being deported.
DHS officials reported that at the time of the alleged threats, he had been living in the Bronx.
Following his arrest after the plane's landing, he was charged with one count of "communicating false information of planned arson and terrorizing". He is currently being held without bail at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center.
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The Bomb Threat and Attempted Hijacking Happened on a United Flight
As we reported when the incident had just happened, United Flight UA2174 was flying from Newark to New Orleans when they squawked emergency code 7500. This means that there was an attempted cockpit breach, or otherwise "unlawful interference". A bomb threat was also later reported.
Air traffic control audio from the incident explained that Gomez-Alberto allegedly "changed into all black" before making the bomb threat. ACARS messages to other United flights during the incident explained that "WE HAD AN ATTEMPTED LEVEL 4 ("an attempt or actual breach of the flight deck") NO OTHER DETAILS ARE KNOWN AT THIS TIME".
Luckily, it was later reported that all 46 passengers and 6 crew were safe - with the plane taxiing to a remote part of Louis Armstrong International Airport in order to detain the suspect.
The suspect was reportedly held at the back of the plane with flight attendants before authorities came to detain him.
Passengers and crew were later taken by bus to the main terminal after waiting around 30 minutes from the plane's arrival time of 11:15pm, per local authorities.
United released a statement about the incident hours after it happened. They said the plane "landed safely following a disruptive incident involving a passenger on board". United also added "Law enforcement met the aircraft upon arrival".
This story is still developing, and we will provide updates as and when they happen. If nothing else, we're glad everyone is safe.
