The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that a Honduran national accused of attempting to storm the cockpit of a United Airlines flight had previously been deported from the United States twice. Rony Alexander Gomez Alberto was taken into custody by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office following a midair disturbance on Monday night, November 9, 2026.
The incident occurred on United Airlines Flight 2174, which traveled from Newark to New Orleans. According to reports, the suspect allegedly claimed to have a bomb during the flight. This threat prompted the pilots to issue a reported hijacking alert. The aircraft, identified as a Boeing 737 MAX 9, landed safely at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport with 46 passengers and six crew members on board.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security provided a detailed statement regarding the suspect's immigration history. Gomez Alberto was apprehended by Border Patrol in September 2011 near El Indio, Texas, after illegally entering the country. He was subsequently removed from the United States. In October 2014, he was caught again near Columbus, New Mexico, and was removed from the country a second time.
In 2019, Border Patrol arrested Gomez Alberto once more after he attempted to enter illegally near San Ysidro, California. Following this arrest, he was placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In January 2020, an immigration judge ordered his release pending removal proceedings, and ICE released him from custody at that time.
After his arrest in New Orleans, ICE lodged a detainer for Gomez Alberto on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The detainer was filed with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. The DHS spokesperson noted that the agency identified him as a criminal illegal alien from Honduras who attempted to gain entry to the cockpit during the flight.
Local authorities booked Gomez Alberto on several charges. According to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, the charges include communicating false information of planned arson and terrorizing. The Department of Homeland Security separately listed offenses including bomb threat, terroristic threat, and disorderly conduct in its official statement.
United Airlines issued a statement to Fox News Digital confirming the disruptive incident. The airline's media relations team stated that the flight landed safely and that law enforcement met the aircraft upon its arrival. The airline referred additional questions about the specific details of the event to local authorities.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the specific circumstances of the arrest or the investigation. The Department of Homeland Security used the incident to highlight its current enforcement stance. The spokesperson stated that under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States.
The case has drawn attention to the immigration status of individuals involved in significant aviation incidents. Gomez Alberto's history of multiple illegal entries and prior removals underscores the complex legal and administrative processes involved in such cases. The flight's safe landing despite the reported threats and cockpit entry attempt provides a focal point for discussions on airline security and immigration enforcement.
As the investigation continues, both the airline and local law enforcement are working to determine the full scope of the incident. The release of the suspect in 2020 pending removal proceedings remains a key point in the narrative, as it preceded the recent arrest by several years. The Department of Homeland Security's confirmation of the detainer signals an ongoing effort to manage the suspect's immigration status following his criminal charges.
