Man Whose 'Hijack' Text Caused Plane to Turn Back Said It Was Banter with Co-Worker, Police Say

Ground ^ | 10/28/2026

[Responsibility2nd]

• On Saturday, Oct. 24, United Flight 1681 returned to Las Vegas after a flight attendant discovered a passenger texting about hijacking the aircraft, forcing the diversion about 10 minutes after takeoff.
• The pilot diverted to Harry Reid International Airport after the attendant notified the captain that a passenger messaged, "I'm gonna hijack," prompting crew to report a 'potential safety concern' to authorities.
• During police interviews, Dante Raymond Milne, 25, claimed the message was "banter between coworkers" and denied intent to harm, though he allegedly sent racial slurs about crew members to another passenger.
• Officers arrested Milne for making a terrorist threat, a felony charge, and booked him into the Clark County Detention Center before he posted $10,000 bail and was released.
• Milne plans to plead not guilty, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 5, 2027, to address the felony charge according to court records.

[Tom Tetroxide]

We’ve reached Dante’s Peak stupidity!

[Gay State Conservative]

Never yell “Hi,Jack” to your pal when on an airplane.

[Bullish]

You know the old saying... “play stupid games, win a bunch of stupid years in prison”

[zeestephen]

How do air line employees have access to private messages sent by passengers?

[Freedom4US]

Except, he’s “judgment proof” as they say. No money.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

He looks ... hmm... muslim-ish.

[SaveFerris]

(No money)

That would definitely do it

[Ezekiel]

the guy - Dante Raymond Milne

Hmmm...

[SunkenCiv]

A.A.’s grandkid.

[marron]

He texted? To who? How does anyone in the air crew know what you are texting? That, to me, is the interesting part of this story.

[marron]

Oops, double post.

[Yardstick]

...as 25-year-old suspect’s chilling messages are revealed...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yo my name is Dante
Raised by my Auntie
Texts stone cold chillin'
Like I'm an aerial villain

But it aint nothin but a plane thang
Just banter with my gang thang
Word to your mother yo

[Samurai_Jack]

Yeah, it’s a problem because that’s how people communicate these days, slang and hyperbole are everywhere. “It’s the bomb,” “It’s bad,” “I’m gonna hijack...” It’s entirely possible the kid was just hyped up and texting his buddy hyperbolic nonsense. But that doesn’t make him any less of an idiot. If a flight attendant glances over and sees “I’m going to hijack this plane” on a screen, the fallout is entirely predictable. Read the room, nobody wants to deal with that nonsense.

[Cronos]

“He texted? To who? How does anyone in the air crew know what you are texting? That, to me, is the interesting part of this story.”

Yes, I mean how? Was she peering into his phone? Would any stewardess have the time to do that?

[rebel25]

For those that I love, I would do great and terrible things. I have actually had to pull a pistol on some unknown people at 200 am, I live way out in the country. I had no qualms with pulling the trigger but they never reached for a weapon. They were scouting my place for their friends whom were about 2 minutes behind them to steal stuff, they came down my 1/4 mile driveway unaware I was watching everything and setting an ambush. When I stepped out I was 3 feet from their window.

[mewzilla]

That is a very good question.

Unless it was on display, face up on a tray table while she served him (another?) drink, I don’t know how in Hades she could have read it.

So either any passenger dropped a dime to the stew on the guy, or there’s another way to see what you are doing on a plane.

Just another reason I’m so glad I don’t fly.

[marron]

Do they have some technology we don’t know about?

[ronniesgal]

love the hat Dante!!

[ronniesgal]

you’re mentioning Christians and dropping the f- at the same post. that’s a first, I think.