NEW ORLEANS, LA — A man was arrested after authorities said he claimed to have a bomb in his backpack and tried to force his way toward the cockpit on a United Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey, to New Orleans. Crew members restrained him at the rear of the plane, and the flight landed safely before local police took him into custody.

The Facts

• What: Authorities say a passenger claimed to have a bomb and attempted to storm the cockpit of a United Airlines flight.
• Where: The incident happened on a flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
• When: The confrontation took place Monday, before the plane landed in New Orleans.
• Who: Federal authorities identified the suspect as Honduras-born Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto.
• Charges: The available account does not list a specific new federal charge or court filing.
• Status: He was detained by the flight crew, then arrested by local police after the plane arrived in New Orleans.

What police say

Authorities said the man made the bomb claim during the flight and then moved toward the cockpit area. The crew stopped him at the rear of the aircraft, preventing him from reaching the front of the plane.

The jet then continued to New Orleans and landed without further incident. After landing, police arrested the suspect.

The Department of Homeland Security later identified the man as Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto and said Immigration and Customs Enforcement had lodged a detainer for him. DHS also said he had a criminal history that included felony bomb threat, felony threat, terroristic state offenses and disorderly conduct.

“Criminal illegal aliens who try to HIJACK AIRPLANES are NOT welcome in the United States,” DHS wrote in a post on X.

The investigation

In cases like this, investigators typically work to confirm exactly what was said, where the suspect was seated, and how the crew responded. Aviation incidents can involve airline security teams, airport police, local law enforcement and federal authorities, depending on the facts.

Authorities said Gomez-Alberto was living in the Bronx, New York, and that he was taken into custody after the flight arrived in New Orleans. DHS said ICE had filed a detainer, a step that asks local authorities to hold the person for immigration officials when allowed by law.

Police and federal agents often review passenger and crew statements, radio or flight records, and any onboard video or other evidence when a threat is reported in the air. Those records can help establish whether the threat was verbal, whether a weapon or device was present, and whether any additional criminal or aviation charges may follow.

What the charges mean

A bomb threat on an aircraft is treated seriously because even a false threat can trigger an emergency response, disrupt the flight and endanger passengers and crew. Depending on the facts and the jurisdiction, prosecutors may consider state or federal charges tied to threats, disorderly conduct or interference with an aircraft.

If a detainer is lodged, immigration authorities are asking to be notified before release so they can decide whether to take custody. That process is separate from any criminal case and does not itself determine guilt or innocence.

In a case like this, the next legal steps usually involve booking, review of evidence, and any decision by prosecutors on formal charges. If federal authorities become involved, the matter can move through both criminal and immigration channels at the same time.

What happens next

No court date or formal charging document was included in the available account. If prosecutors file charges, the case would then move into the normal pretrial process, which can include initial appearances, bond decisions and hearings on custody.

Federal and local authorities may continue to sort out jurisdiction, especially when a flight threat leads to both criminal arrest and an immigration detainer.

Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).