Emergency Landing of United Airlines Flight UA380 Due to Bomb Threat

CHICAGO- A United Airlines flight, designated UA380, was rerouted from Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW) to Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) due to a reported bomb threat on board. The aircraft made a safe landing at St. Louis Lambert Airport (STL) on Sunday, November 16, 2025, and passengers were escorted to the B concourse during the emergency response.

Authorities stated that a passenger was arrested after claiming there was a bomb in his wife’s luggage. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as bomb squad teams conducted a thorough search of the aircraft.

United Airlines Bomb Threat

The United Airlines Boeing 737-700, with the registration N13718, took off from Dallas utilizing runway 18L. Shortly after reaching 39,000 feet, pilots declared a general emergency with squawk code 7700.

This declaration occurred about 40 minutes into the flight, leading air traffic control to redirect the plane to St. Louis for an urgent landing.

The jet successfully landed on runway 29 and remained on a taxiway for approximately two hours while law enforcement assessed the situation. Passengers were subsequently guided to the terminal as investigators examined the interior and luggage compartments of the aircraft.

Details from Airport and Law Enforcement

Airport director Rhonda Hamm Niebruegge confirmed that all passengers exited safely and were taken to the B concourse for further instructions. She mentioned that bomb and arson teams were actively conducting a full inspection of the aircraft late Sunday morning.

According to local media sources, the passenger in custody asserted there was a bomb in his wife’s luggage. However, officials have not disclosed further details, and no explosives have been confirmed during the ongoing investigation.

Flight data indicates the aircraft, which is 26 years old, departed Dallas at 6:57 a.m. local time and arrived in St. Louis around 8:40 a.m. The diversion and subsequent ground delay were due to standard security protocols requiring a complete inspection before the aircraft could be cleared for further travel.

Similar Incident

A Delta Air Lines flight was evacuated at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) due to a potential bomb threat as it prepared for departure to Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). Authorities quickly cleared the aircraft following a comprehensive security sweep.

This incident occurred just hours after another threat was reported at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), raising security concerns at various U.S. airports.

The Delta flight operating under the identifier DL2313 was at Terminal C when the crew alerted authorities around 8 p.m. local time. Port Authority Police officers redirected the aircraft to a remote location for thorough inspection.

Passengers were evacuated and transported by bus to the terminal, where they waited as specialized teams searched the cabin and cargo area.

The inspection took nearly two hours, and by 10 p.m., authorities confirmed there were no explosives found aboard the aircraft. Delta emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew members remained paramount, apologizing for the inconvenience caused by the incident.

The airline then arranged for the flight to depart the next day, offering passengers rebooking options, including a morning flight.