United flight returns to Las Vegas after passenger reportedly texts about hijacking
A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound for Newark returned to Las Vegas on Saturday 24 October after a flight attendant reportedly saw a passenger texting about hijacking the plane. No threats were found aboard.
1 / 3
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2United Airlines Flight 1681, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound from Las Vegas to Newark, returned to Harry Reid International Airport on Saturday evening, 24 October, after a flight attendant reported a passenger texting about hijacking the aircraft. Hindustan TimesN “A United Airlines aircraft operating service from Las Vegas to Newark diverted back to Harry Reid International Airport on Saturday evening” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ CBS NewsLC “United flight diverted after flight attendant spots passenger texting about hijacking” Read at CBS News ↗ Centre · 1The pilot told air traffic controllers: "The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft. They called me, we went in lockdown, and we returned to Vegas," according to a recording cited by Hindustan Times. Hindustan TimesN ““The flight attendant saw him texting that he was going to hijack the aircraft. They called me, we went in lockdown, and we returned to Vegas,” the pilot said” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1The crew secured the cockpit door, and the pilot said the passenger appeared unaware of any response measures. Hindustan TimesN “The flight crew secured the cockpit door while simultaneously informing air traffic control that the passenger appeared unaware of any ongoing response measures.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Centre · 1United called the incident a "potential security concern" and said the flight carried 150 passengers and six crew members. Hindustan TimesN “The airline classified the incident as a “potential security concern” and confirmed the flight carried 150 passengers and six crew members.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1The aircraft landed without further complications and was fully inspected, and no threats were found aboard. Hindustan TimesN “No threats were discovered aboard the aircraft, notwithstanding the text message threat that had been received.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1Crew duty-time limits then expired, causing an overnight delay, and passengers were rebooked on a Sunday-morning flight due to reach Newark Liberty International Airport that afternoon. Hindustan TimesN “crew duty time limitations subsequently expired, resulting in an extended overnight delay for passengers”“arrival at Newark Liberty International Airport scheduled for Sunday afternoon” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Centre · 1The passenger's identity and the content of the text message have not been disclosed. Hindustan TimesN “Additional details regarding the passenger's identity and the specific content of the text message remain undisclosed.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- CBS News ran a video segment from its Bay Area Morning Edition, with a headline stating the flight was diverted after a flight attendant spotted a passenger texting about hijacking.
- Emphasis
- The flight attendant's sighting as the trigger for the diversion.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No further detail beyond the headline and lede is given, so the airline's statement, passenger numbers and outcome are not covered.
- For example
-
“United flight diverted after flight attendant spots passenger texting about hijacking” — CBS News
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Hindustan Times gave a detailed account built on air traffic control recordings, the airline's statement and the FAA, leading with the pilot's quote.
- Emphasis
- Crew response, the lockdown, the overnight delay and the finding that no threats were aboard.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The passenger's identity and the message content are not known.
- Charged language
- “hijacking threat”
- For example
-
“Details regarding the potential hijacking were obtained from air traffic control communications recordings.” — Hindustan Times
Right1 outlet
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- A United flight from Las Vegas to Newark turned back to Las Vegas.
- A flight attendant saw a passenger texting about hijacking the aircraft.
Left1 article
-
United flight diverted after flight attendant spots passenger texting about hijacking
Neutral Short video-segment headline stating the diversion and its cause without elaboration.
Centre1 article
-
United flight returns to Las Vegas over hijacking threat: ‘The flight attendant saw him texting’
Neutral Detailed, factual account sourced to ATC recordings, United and the FAA, ending with the finding that no threats were found.
- 26 Oct 13:25 First Hindustan TimesN United flight returns to Las Vegas over hijacking threat: ‘The flight attendant saw him texting’
- 26 Oct 13:45 +20m CBS NewsLC United flight diverted after flight attendant spots passenger texting about hijacking
- 26 Oct 15:22 +1h 56m New York PostR United flight forced to turn around midair after crew member spotted horrifying text on passenger’s phone
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…