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A deranged passenger claimed he had a bomb and tried to storm the cockpit of a United Airlines flight out of New Jersey Monday night, prompting pilots to send out a hijacking alert.
New Orleans-bound United flight 2174 carrying 46 passengers and six crew departed Newark International Airport around 9:30 p.m. before pilots radioed in an attempted breach of the cockpit, according to the airline and aviation content creator Aaron Rheins.
Air Traffic Control audio reviewed by Rheins revealed the nutjob – a 34-year-old Hispanic man who “spoke nearly no English” – was detained in the back of the plane and the aircraft landed safely in New Orleans.
He was identified as New Yorker Rony Gomez Alberto, 34, local authorities told NOLA.com, saying he was acting irrationally before falsely warning the crew he had a bomb.
United Airlines confirmed the incident with The Post, and said the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department met the aircraft on its arrival in New Orleans, according to authorities.
The plane’s passengers safely arrived at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport after the incident, landing around 11:15 p.m., according to a United Airlines spokesperson.
Gomez was taken into custody after the plane landed, local authorities told the outlet.
He was charged with a count of communication of false information of planned arson and terrorizing, according to the publication.
Gomez is being held without bail at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, according to authorities.
Local authorities did not immediately reply to The Post’s request for comment.
