Twice-deported man arrested after bomb threat on United flight

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 20:33 · Archive

A man identified as Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto was arrested after allegedly threatening to bomb a United Airlines flight to New Orleans and attempting to enter the cockpit.

Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto, 34, a Honduran national, was arrested on Monday night after allegedly threatening to bomb United Airlines Flight 2174 and attempting to enter the cockpit as it descended towards New Orleans. The flight departed Newark International Airport and landed at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport without serious incident. No one was injured.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Gomez-Alberto had been apprehended and deported twice before. Border Patrol arrested him in September 2011 after he illegally entered the United States near El Indio, Texas, and removed him from the country. He was apprehended again in October 2014 near Columbus, New Mexico, following another illegal entry, and was deported a second time.

Gomez-Alberto illegally re-entered the country a third time in 2019 near San Ysidro, California. Border Patrol arrested him again at that location. However, in January 2020, an immigration judge ordered his release from ICE custody pending removal proceedings. He was living in the Bronx at the time of Monday's incident.

Security audio obtained by local news revealed the tense response as emergency personnel cornered Gomez-Alberto at the back of the aircraft on the tarmac. Personnel were heard communicating about the suspect's location and coordinating evacuation of passengers.

ICE lodged a detainer for Gomez-Alberto on Tuesday with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. The Department of Homeland Security stated that criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States.

How it is being reported

• Illegal immigrant’s alleged plane hijack scare fuels tense security scramble after door was ‘breached’: audioSecurity audio captures the tense moments as emergency crews cornered Rony Gomez-Alberto at the back of United Airlines flight 2174 on the tarmac.Fox News · 11 Nov, 20:12
• Illegal migrant arrested for threatening to bomb United Airlines flight to New Orleans before rushing cockpitRony Alexander Gomez-Alberto, 34, was arrested on Monday night after allegedly threatening to blow up United Flight 2174 as it made its way to New Orleans.Daily Mail · 11 Nov, 04:33
• Illegal immigrant ID’d as United flier accused of bomb threat, hijack attempt — was previously busted by ICE but judge let him goImmigration officials said that he was arrested twice in the US and deported – first in September 2011 near El Indio, Texas, and again in October 2014 in Columbus, New Mexico.New York Post · 11 Nov, 02:18
• Twice-deported illegal immigrant accused of trying to storm United cockpit, threatening bomb: DHSRony Alexander Gomez-Alberto, accused of a bomb threat on a United Airlines flight to New Orleans, had been deported twice before, DHS confirms.Fox News · 11 Nov, 02:01

In this story: Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto · United Airlines · Honduras · New Orleans · Department of Homeland Security · Immigration and Customs Enforcement · El Indio, Texas · San Ysidro, California

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log