An airline passenger accused of attempting to enter the cockpit of a United Airlines flight has been identified as a twice-deported Honduran illegal migrant, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed.
A DHS spokesperson said Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto, 34, was arrested on three separate occasions for illegally entering the United States.
According to the New York Post, Gomez-Alberto was arrested twice in the United States and deported.
Gomez-Alberto was deported in 2011 near El Indio, Texas, and again in 2014 in Columbus, New Mexico.
Watch below:
A twice-deported illegal alien allegedly claimed he had a bomb and tried to storm the cockpit of a United Airlines flight from Newark to New Orleans, prompting an in-flight hijacking alert.
Authorities identified the suspect as Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto, who was deported in… pic.twitter.com/fTV98qJReA
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 11, 2026
More from the New York Post:
The slippery migrant made his way back into the US a third time in 2019 near California’s San Ysidro border town, where he was nabbed again, according to DHS.
But Gomez-Alberto was freed from ICE custody in January 2020 after a judge ordered his release pending removal proceedings, authorities said.
His criminal history includes felony bomb threat, felony threat—terroristic state offenses, and disorderly conduct, according to the DHS spokesperson.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, criminal illegal aliens are NOT welcome in the United States,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Gomez-Alberto was currently living in the Bronx, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office told NOLA.com.
ICE lodged a detainer for Gomez-Alberto on Tuesday with the sheriff’s office after the incident in the air, according to DHS.
Gomez-Alberto allegedly threatened the United Airlines flight carrying 46 passengers and six crew members on Monday night, claiming he had a bomb as he rushed toward the cockpit, according to the airline and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, local affiliate FOX8 reported.
Air Traffic Control audio revealed the nutjob was detained in the back of the plane after being convinced to head to the rear by the flight crew to allow the aircraft to eventually land safely in New Orleans.
“On November 10, 2026, ICE lodged a detainer for Rony Alexander Gomez-Alberto, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, with Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office after he attempted to gain entry to the cockpit during a flight,” a DHS spokesperson told Fox News.
Illegal immigrant ID'd as United flier accused of bomb threat, hijack attempt – was previously busted by ICE but judge let him go https://t.co/b45o22EnIH pic.twitter.com/Rhp4rvGd4t
— New York Post (@nypost) November 11, 2026
Fox News noted:
United Airlines also confirmed the disturbance in a separate statement to Fox News Digital.
“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,” United media relations said.
