# United pilots squawked 7500 after a passenger allegedly claimed a bomb and tried to enter the cockpit

United Flight 2174 from Newark landed safely in New Orleans on Nov. 9 with 46 passengers. Deputies arrested a 34-year-old man; the FAA plans to investigate.

By Patrick Karsh · Lounge Frog
Published: 2026-11-11T14:31:15.368334Z
Updated: 2026-11-11T14:31:33.556655Z
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![A United Boeing 737 MAX 9, the aircraft type that operated Flight 2174. File image: United Airlines](https://pub-fac99da959e344fe99d810d309cef7df.r2.dev/photos/article/22c7d829-265d-4dde-a555-44bd7ff768bc/6be6f41f2c0eaaea111ad2d0401be95d.jpg)

A routine Monday night flight from Newark to New Orleans ended with deputies at the gate. On Nov. 9, 2026, a passenger on [United](/airlines/ua) Flight 2174 allegedly told the crew he had a bomb and tried to get into the cockpit. The pilots set their transponder to 7500, the code that tells air traffic control a plane faces unlawful interference, according to flight-tracking data reported by [Simple Flying](https://simpleflying.com/united-pilots-squawk-hijack-code-passenger-storm-cockpit-bomb/). The Boeing 737 MAX 9 landed safely, and no one was reported hurt.

United kept its statement short. "United flight 2174 from Newark to New Orleans landed safely following a disruptive incident involving a passenger onboard. Law enforcement met the aircraft upon arrival," a spokesperson said, in a statement [quoted by Simple Flying](https://simpleflying.com/united-pilots-squawk-hijack-code-passenger-storm-cockpit-bomb/) and other outlets. The airline confirmed 46 passengers and six crew members were on board.

## What officials say happened

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office gave the first official account. Deputies said a 34-year-old man began acting irrationally on the plane and reportedly told crew members he had a bomb, [WVUE Fox 8 reported](https://www.fox8live.com/2026/11/10/man-arrested-after-alleged-bomb-threat-united-flight-new-orleans-deputies-say/). The plane landed at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, and passengers were taken to the terminal.

Deputies arrested the man without incident. He was booked at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on charges of communicating false information of planned arson and terrorizing. These are accusations. He has not been convicted of anything.

Authorities named him as Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto. The Department of Homeland Security said he had attempted to enter the cockpit, [Simple Flying reported](https://simpleflying.com/united-pilots-squawk-hijack-code-passenger-storm-cockpit-bomb/). According to [ABC7 New York](https://abc7ny.com/post/dhs-honduran-immigrant-living-bronx-accused-bomb-threat-newark-flight/20032606/), DHS also said he is a Honduran national who had been removed from the United States twice, in 2011 and 2014. It said he reentered in 2019, was arrested by Border Patrol and was released in January 2020 while his immigration case was pending. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer, and he remains in custody without bond, ABC7 reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it plans to investigate. The FBI told WDSU that federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Louisiana will decide whether he faces federal charges, [People reported](https://people.com/united-flight-sends-out-alert-after-passenger-claims-to-have-a-bomb-and-attempts-to-enter-the-cockpit-12248051).

## How the night unfolded

Flight-tracking data cited by Simple Flying shows the jet left Newark at 9:26 p.m. Eastern and landed in New Orleans at 11:07 p.m. local time.

```diagram
type: timeline
title: United Flight 2174, Nov. 9, 2026, as reported
source: [Simple Flying](https://simpleflying.com/united-pilots-squawk-hijack-code-passenger-storm-cockpit-bomb/), [WVUE Fox 8](https://www.fox8live.com/2026/11/10/man-arrested-after-alleged-bomb-threat-united-flight-new-orleans-deputies-say/)
---
2026-11-09: 9:26 p.m. ET, the 737 MAX 9 leaves Newark with 46 passengers and six crew
2026-11-09: In flight, a passenger allegedly claims a bomb and tries to reach the cockpit
2026-11-09: Pilots set code 7500 while descending through about 20,000 feet
2026-11-09: 11:07 p.m. CT, the jet lands safely in New Orleans
2026-11-10: Deputies say the man was booked; DHS later names him
```

The crew also sent a message to other United flights through ACARS, the text system between planes and the airline. "We had an attempted level four, no other details are known at this time," it read, according to Simple Flying, which cited the account FlightDeck on X. By the time the plane reached the gate, the passenger was reportedly sitting at the back of the plane with flight attendants.

## What 7500 and "Level 4" actually mean

Pilots have three special transponder codes. Each one sends a silent signal to air traffic control. The [FAA's Aeronautical Information Manual](https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap6_section_3.html) lists 7500 as the code for "I am being hijacked/forced to a new destination." Controllers never assign it unless the pilot has warned them.

| Code | What it signals | FAA source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7500 | Unlawful interference or hijack | [AIM 6-3](https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap6_section_3.html) |
| 7600 | Two-way radio failure | [AIM 6-4](https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap6_section_4.html) |
| 7700 | General emergency | [AIM 6-2](https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap6_section_2.html) |

"Level 4" is the top of the threat scale U.S. crews use to describe trouble in the cabin. Simple Flying describes it as an attempted or actual breach of the cockpit. Lower levels cover disruptive or physically abusive behavior. A Level 4 report is rare, and it brings a full response on the ground.

## Why the system worked

Here is the argument this case makes. Since 2001, cockpit doors on U.S. airliners have been reinforced and kept locked in flight. Crews are trained to treat any attempt to reach the flight deck as the worst case. On Flight 2174, the reported sequence fits that design. The pilots flagged the threat, the cabin crew kept the man in the back, and police met the plane.

None of that makes the night less frightening for the 46 people on board. But the outcome matters. The plane landed safely, and everyone walked off.

## What passengers should know

- Follow crew instructions right away. In a threat like this, the crew's job is to contain the person, not to explain.
- Stay seated unless told otherwise. Crowding the aisle can make it harder for the crew to act.
- Expect delays after landing. Police may hold the plane, question passengers or keep bags for a time.
- Report what you saw to the crew or police. Do not post claims online before they are confirmed.
- A false bomb claim is a serious crime. Deputies booked this passenger on a charge of communicating false information.

United referred further questions to local authorities, Simple Flying reported. If you were on Flight 2174 and still need help with bags or a missed connection, contact United directly through its app or website. More on the airline is on our [United page](/airlines/ua).