United Airlines Flight 2174 Was Heading to New Orleans From Newark, New Jersey, on Monday

United Airlines flight 2174 was heading to New Orleans from Newark, New Jersey, on Monday when pilots sounded the alarm.

The incident, which prompted a high-stakes security response on the tarmac, centered on an alleged hijacking attempt by a passenger claiming to have a bomb in his backpack.

The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Rony Gomez-Alberto of Honduras, is currently being held in jail with no bond. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the suspect was deported from the U.S. twice before he illegally entered the country by way of California. He was released by a judge in 2020.

Security audio obtained by 4WWL provides a harrowing look at the scramble to contain the situation as the plane sat on the tarmac. Dispatch recordings captured the moment emergency personnel realized the aircraft had been compromised. “We have him at the back door,” one voice reported over the radio.

False bomb threat on United Airlines flight heading to New Orleans lands one man behind bars — WDSU News

The situation required coordination to prevent the suspect from reaching the flight deck. As ground teams moved to secure the perimeter, dispatchers issued specific instructions to ensure the safety of the crew and passengers. “Stay on the line with him and tell him to notify you immediately if he starts trying to move toward the front of the airplane,” one official commanded.

Dispatchers said that the man, described as a Hispanic male wearing a hat, probably something about 5’7″, and wearing all black, did not speak English. While Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputies ultimately took the suspect into custody, the specific agencies communicating on the dispatch channel remain unclear.

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The flight crew followed established emergency protocols to isolate the threat. “All right, be advised, pilots are going to stay in the cockpit with the door locked,” a dispatcher stated. “Flight attendants are going to come off, so we’re going to bring them off and bring them over here as well.”

No one was hurt during the incident, and passengers were corralled near vehicles. Gomez-Alberto now faces charges of terrorizing, communicating false information of planned arson and fugitive from justice.