A United Airlines flight bomb threat triggered a major scare on Sunday after a Chicago-bound plane was forced to make an emergency landing in St. Louis. The aircraft, operating as United Flight 380, diverted after a male passenger claimed his wife had a bomb inside her luggage, according to U.S. media reports.
The flight, a Boeing 737-700, had taken off from Dallas and was headed to Chicago O’Hare International Airport with 119 passengers and 5 crew members. Around 8:39 a.m. local time, the pilot made the decision to divert to St. Louis Lambert International Airport due to the alarming claim.
United Airlines confirmed the diversion, stating that the flight “landed safely in St. Louis to address a potential security concern.” All passengers were immediately asked to deboard as bomb squads and law enforcement agencies took control of the scene.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI led the investigation at the airport. Bomb-sniffing dogs, along with the St. Louis Bomb and Arson Squad, thoroughly searched the aircraft. The man who made the claim was detained for questioning, though additional details about his status remain unclear.
The aircraft remained grounded for several hours as authorities conducted a complete security sweep. After confirming that no explosive device was found, airport officials cleared the Boeing 737-700 to resume its journey.
Flight data from FlightAware shows that the aircraft departed again early afternoon and ultimately landed in Chicago at 2:50 p.m., following a delay of more than five hours.
This incident adds to a recent increase in aviation-related security threats across the United States. Earlier this month, a separate threat involving a demand for cryptocurrency targeted another United Airlines flight arriving at Reagan National Airport.
United Airlines reiterated that pilots have the authority to divert flights whenever a threat—real or perceived—emerges during travel. The airline thanked passengers for their patience as officials worked to ensure everyone’s safety.
