United flight sends out hijack alert after passenger claiming to have bomb attempts to storm cockpit

Key Points:

• A United Airlines flight from Newark to New Orleans was the scene of a hijacking scare when a passenger, Rony Gomez-Alberto, falsely claimed to have a bomb and attempted to storm the cockpit, prompting pilots to issue a Level 4 hijacking alert.
• The 34-year-old man, who spoke little English and changed into all black before trying to reach the cockpit, was detained by the flight crew and safely arrested after the plane landed in New Orleans with 46 passengers and six crew aboard.
• Gomez-Alberto, a Honduran national with a history of illegal entry into the U.S. and prior deportations, was charged with communication of false information of planned arson and terrorizing, and is being held without bail.
• The incident follows a recent similar threat on a United flight, highlighting ongoing concerns about passenger security and false hijacking threats on commercial flights.
• Authorities coordinated to ensure passenger safety during the event, with the cockpit remaining locked and the suspect negotiating with police before arrest upon landing.