A United Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles International Airport returned to its origin of Honolulu after a “potential security concern” was found in a lavatory onboard.
“United Airlines Flight 1169 returned to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu around 1:35 a.m. local time on Wednesday, May 21, due to a security issue. The flight was headed to Los Angeles International Airport. Contact the airline and local authorities for additional information,” the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles.
WATCH:
JUST IN: LAX-bound United flight from Honolulu diverted after ‘potential security concern’ found written on restroom mirror – KTLA pic.twitter.com/JUeZdjeNcr
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 21, 2025
Per FOX 11 Los Angeles:
United also released a statement to FOX 11 that said, “United flight 1169 from Honolulu to Los Angeles returned safely to Honolulu after a potential security concern was found written on a lavatory mirror. Law enforcement met the aircraft, and a security sweep was conducted. We are rebooking customers on another flight to Los Angeles that departs later this evening.”
The Boeing 777 had 339 passengers and 10 crew members.
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A United Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) had to return to its origin of Honolulu after a “potential security concern” was found in a lavatory onboard, according to an airline spokesperson. https://t.co/akcWcE1Fcx
— KTLA (@KTLA) May 21, 2025
KTLA reports:
UA1169 left Daniel K. Inouye International Airport — airport code HNL — at 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware. Radar data shows that, about an hour and a half after taking off, the flight made a sharp 180 degree turn and began going back towards HNL.
This was due to a “potential security concern” found written on a lavatory mirror, a United Airlines spokesperson confirmed to KTLA. What the alleged threat said was not disclosed.
Upon landing safely back in Honolulu, law enforcement searched the plane; the spokesperson did not elaborate on whether anything was found.
“We are rebooking customers on another flight to Los Angeles that departs later this evening,” the spokesperson told KTLA on Wednesday morning.
The incident follows a Hawaiian Airlines flight being evacuated after an apparent bomb threat shortly before takeoff at San Diego International Airport.
Hawaiian Airlines Flight Evacuated After Alleged Bomb Threat, U.S. Servicemember Arrested
