CHICAGO- A United Airlines (UA) flight UA380 from Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) to Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) diverted to St Louis Lambert Airport (STL) after a reported bomb threat onboard. The aircraft landed safely, and passengers were moved to the B concourse during the response on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
Authorities confirmed that one passenger was arrested after claiming a bomb was inside his wife’s luggage. No injuries were reported, and bomb squad teams continued their search of the aircraft.
United Airlines Bomb Threat
The United Airlines Boeing 737-700, registered as N13718, departed Dallas on runway 18L and climbed to 39,000 feet before the pilots declared a general emergency using squawk code 7700.
The alert came about 40 minutes into the flight, prompting air traffic control to redirect the aircraft to St Louis for an immediate landing.
The jet touched down on runway 29 and remained parked on a taxiway for roughly two hours while law enforcement assessed the situation. Passengers were later escorted to the terminal as investigators examined the cabin and baggage compartment.
Details from Airport and Law Enforcement
Airport director Rhonda Hamm Niebruegge confirmed that all passengers were removed safely and taken to the B concourse for further instructions. She noted that bomb and arson personnel were still conducting a full search of the aircraft late Sunday morning.
Sources told local media that the arrested passenger claimed a bomb was in his wife’s bag. Officials have not released additional details, and no explosive device has been confirmed during the ongoing investigation.
Data from Flight data shows the 26-year-old aircraft left Dallas at 6:57 a.m. local time and reached St Louis at about 8:40 a.m. The diversion and extended ground delay resulted from security protocols that required thorough inspection before clearing the aircraft to proceed.
Similar Incident
A Delta Air Lines (DL) flight preparing to depart LaGuardia Airport (LGA) for Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) was evacuated after a reported bomb threat. Authorities cleared the aircraft following a full security sweep.
This event came hours after a separate threat at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), heightening security concerns across major US airports.
The flight, operating as DL2313, was positioned at Terminal C when the crew raised an alert around 8 p.m. local time. Port Authority Police Department officers redirected the aircraft to a remote area for inspection.
Passengers were moved off the plane, transferred by bus to the terminal, and asked to wait as teams searched the cabin and baggage hold.
The inspection lasted close to two hours. By 10 p.m., authorities confirmed there were no explosives onboard and cleared the aircraft. Delta communicated that customer and employee safety remained its priority and apologized for the disruption.
The carrier prepared the flight for an overnight departure, while affected passengers were offered rebooking options, including a morning service.
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