HONOLULU- A United Airlines (UA) flight en route to Los Angeles (LAX) made an emergency return to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Honolulu, following a bomb threat discovered mid-flight.
The incident occurred early Wednesday morning (May 21, 2025) on United Airlines Flight 1169, prompting swift law enforcement intervention and a thorough security sweep upon landing.
Photo: Clément AlloingUnited Flight Gets Bomb Threat
United Airlines Flight 1169 (UA1169), operating a Boeing 777 with 339 passengers, departed Honolulu (HNL) for Los Angeles (LAX) late Tuesday night.
Approximately an hour into the flight, crew members discovered a threatening message written on a lavatory mirror, described as a potential security concern.
The pilot declared an emergency, and the flight returned to Honolulu around 1:35 a.m. local time on Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the decision was made in accordance with standard safety procedures.
Upon arrival, the aircraft was met by law enforcement, including TSA and local authorities, who conducted a comprehensive security sweep.
United Airlines issued a statement confirming the nature of the incident and noted that affected passengers were rebooked on a separate flight to Los Angeles later that evening.
Photo: Clément AlloingSimilar Threat
Just hours earlier, a Hawaiian Airlines (HA) flight scheduled from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Honolulu (HNL) faced a bomb threat before takeoff.
Authorities say a 35-year-old man was arrested for making a false bomb threat after allegedly informing a flight attendant that another passenger carried explosives.
The aircraft, an Airbus A330, had begun taxiing when it was halted and moved to a secure section of the tarmac.
Passengers were safely evacuated as K-9 units and emergency personnel conducted an extensive search of the aircraft. No explosives were found, and normal airport operations continued shortly afterward.
Law enforcement officials charged the suspect with making false security claims, a federal offense. The credibility of the threat has not yet been publicly confirmed, but the incident prompted heightened security responses and reinforced protocol adherence.
Photo: By tjdarmstadt – IMG_0388.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61530146Passenger Remarks
A passenger on the flight confirmed that the diversion was prompted by a message written on a lavatory mirror claiming there was a bomb onboard.
After the aircraft safely returned to Honolulu, passengers were deplaned and transported by bus back to the terminal. Authorities, including the FBI, responded immediately. Federal agents began interviewing passengers while security teams used trained dogs to inspect all baggage.
One passenger reported that the crew did not announce the nature of the threat during the flight. Upon landing, travelers were met with a heavy security presence and told they would be questioned individually.
“All they’ve told us is that it was a serious security threat,” the passenger said, adding that United Airlines has not offered overnight accommodations, and rebookings were handled automatically by the airline’s system.
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