DHS Detains Man With Two Prior Deportations After Cockpit Bid on United Flight

Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto was detained by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday following a dispute on a United Airlines flight that carried 52 people from Newark to New Orleans. The incident occurred on a plane that departed Monday, disrupting the journey before it landed safely at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

Passengers reported that the man claimed a bomb was in his backpack. He then attempted to force his way into the cockpit. Flight crew members restrained him at the rear of the aircraft. The plane completed its route, and local police officers took Gomez-Alberto into custody upon arrival.

The Department of Homeland Security identified the suspect as a native of Honduras in a social media post on Tuesday evening. The agency described him as a criminal illegal alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer for him on the same day. The department listed a history of felony bomb threats, felony threats, terroristic state offenses, and disorderly conduct in his record.

Federal officials noted that Gomez-Alberto had been deported twice previously. A third interaction with US immigration authorities occurred in January 2020. At that time, ICE agents detained him before a judge ordered his release pending removal proceedings. Local law enforcement stated that he was living in the Bronx, New York, when he boarded the flight.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and President Donald Trump emphasized the administration's stance on such incidents. A statement said criminal illegal aliens attempting to hijack airplanes are not welcome in the United States. The department capitalized the words HIJACK AIRPLANES in its post to stress the severity of the situation. All 46 passengers and six crew members aboard the flight were safe after landing.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed the suspect's residence in the Bronx. This detail connected his location to the flight path from Newark. Authorities are continuing to review the events that led to the arrest. The case involves federal implications due to the suspect's immigration status and criminal history.