United Airlines Flight 380 diverted to St. Louis after a passenger claimed his wife’s luggage contained a bomb. Law enforcement and bomb-sniffing dogs inspected the Boeing 737-700 carrying 119 passengers and five crew; the aircraft was cleared and later continued to Chicago after a 5-hour, 33-minute delay. The passenger was arrested and the FBI is investigating; no explosive device was reported found.
United Flight Diverts to St. Louis After Passenger Claims Wife’s Luggage Contains a Bomb
United Airlines Flight 380 diverted to St. Louis after a passenger claimed his wife’s luggage contained a bomb. Law enforcement and bomb-sniffing dogs inspected the Boeing 737-700 carrying 119 passengers and five crew; the aircraft was cleared and later continued to Chicago after a 5-hour, 33-minute delay. The passenger was arrested and the FBI is investigating; no explosive device was reported found.
11:44 AM, 11/17/2025Security
Flight Diverts After Onboard Bomb Claim
A United Airlines flight from Dallas to Chicago made an unscheduled landing at St. Louis Lambert International Airport after a passenger said his wife’s checked bag contained a bomb. United Airlines Flight 380, a Boeing 737-700 carrying 119 passengers and five crew, landed in St. Louis at about 8:39 a.m. local time on Nov. 16.
Security response and search
Local authorities and federal agents responded to the scene after the passenger — who has since been taken into custody — reportedly made the threat. Law enforcement inspected the aircraft, deployed bomb-sniffing dogs and checked luggage before clearing the plane. No explosive device was reported found, and the flight later resumed to Chicago.
Delays and investigation
Flight tracking data show Flight 380 was delayed by approximately 5 hours and 33 minutes, ultimately arriving at Chicago O'Hare at about 2:50 p.m. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed the FBI was called in and the matter remains under investigation. The arrested passenger is in custody as authorities continue their inquiry.
United’s statement: "United flight 380 from Dallas to Chicago landed safely in St. Louis to address a potential security concern. Law enforcement searched and cleared the aircraft. The flight took off from St. Louis earlier this afternoon and has since landed in Chicago."
Context
This incident follows a spate of recent in-flight bomb-threat reports. In September and July, separate passengers on other carriers were arrested after making similar claims; in those cases, no explosives were found and law enforcement took the suspects off the aircraft.
What we know: the flight diverted, passengers deplaned while authorities searched the aircraft with canine units, no device was reported found, the suspect was arrested, and federal investigators are involved.