United flight from Newark to Los Angeles diverts to Chicago after suspicious bag and note are found in bathroom saying aircraft was going to ‘blow up’

A United Airlines flight traveling to Los Angeles International Airport was diverted to Chicago after a bomb threat Wednesday morning.

United Flight 1533 took off from Newark Liberty International Airport at 6:05 am and landed at O’Hare Airport at 7:44 am Chicago time. 

A suspicious bag was found aboard the flight, KTLA reported.

A note was also found in the bathroom stating the plane would blow up, an initial police investigation found. 

The plane’s 202 passengers were evacuated, and the plane was searched at a remote location inside O’Hare Airport, police said in a statement.

The plane’s 202 passengers were evacuated, and the plane was being searched at a remote location at O’Hare Airport, police said

Police dogs were deployed to the plane upon landing, with one K-9 finding a suspicious bag and a robot was deployed to remove it

Police dogs were deployed to the plane upon landing, with one K-9 finding a suspicious bag and a robot was deployed to remove it, CBS reported. 

The dog connected a scent from the threatening note and the bag, an airline source told CBS. 

Police are questioning the passenger who checked the bag, and the FBI is also investigating the incident. 

‘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,’ passenger Rashad Robinson posted on X.

‘We are being held on buses away from the plane about a mile away from the main O’hare airport,’ he explained. 

‘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,’ he stated. 

Sports columnist Ian O’Connor was also on board the United flight, and confirmed that all passengers disembarked safely. 

‘We were told in air only that a situation forced the diversion,’ he explained on X. 

‘The threat was revealed to us when the plane was parked and police and fire trucks started closing in. 

Adding: ‘All off safely. Made for a tense final 40 minutes in air but crew did a good job being firm and urgent without showing panic.’ 

‘United flight 1533 diverted to Chicago this morning due to a potential security concern,’ United said in a statement.

‘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.’ 

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United flight from Newark to Los Angeles diverts to Chicago after suspicious bag and note are found in bathroom saying aircraft was going to ‘blow up’