Twice-deported illegal immigrant accused of trying to storm United cockpit, threatening bomb: DHS

A passenger on a United Airlines flight was arrested after allegedly trying to enter the cockpit and claiming he had a bomb. The incident prompted a reported hijacking alert, and the aircraft landed safely in New Orleans, where law enforcement met it.

DHS identified the suspect as Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto, a Honduran national who had been deported twice after border apprehensions in 2011 and 2014. He was arrested again in 2019, then released from ICE custody in January 2020 while removal proceedings were pending. Local reporting said he was booked on charges including communicating false information about planned arson and terrorising; DHS also cited bomb threat, terroristic threat and disorderly conduct offences. The Boeing 737 MAX 9 was carrying 46 passengers and six crew.