IN-FLIGHT BOMB THREAT: Newark-to-LA United flight diverted to Chicago

A United Airlines flight lifts off at O’Hare International Airport.

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A United Airlines flight heading to Los Angeles made an emergency landing in Chicago on Wednesday after the crew reported a security issue, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

United Airlines Flight 1533, a Boeing 787, departed from Newark Liberty International Airport at around 6 a.m. and was originally headed to Los Angeles International Airport.

Crew members on the flight reported a security issue on the flight and the flight landed safely at Chicago O’Hare International Airport at around 7:40 a.m., according to the FAA.

According to passenger Rashad Robinson, who posted about the incident on X, someone had allegedly made a bomb threat on the flight and that was the cause of the emergency landing.

“On a United flight from Newark to LAX — someone allegedly went into the bathroom and made a bomb threat on the bathroom window and now we’ve made an emergency landing in Chicago,” Robinson wrote.

Police evacuated passengers and searched the plane at O’Hare Airport, CBS2 reported.

A note found in the bathroom claimed the plane was going to explode, according to a preliminary police report attained by the station.

A bomb-sniffing dog detected a suspicious bag, which a robot then moved. The passenger who owned the bag is being questioned by police, CBS2 reported.

“They are going to go through everyone’s bags and we don’t have a clear plan for getting to LA or back to Newark,” Robinson wrote on X.

United Airlines said in a statement, “United flight 1533 diverted to Chicago this morning due to a potential security concern. The flight landed safely and met local law enforcement upon arrival. Customers deplaned and we expect the flight to depart for Los Angeles later this afternoon.”

An investigation is ongoing.