United Pilots Squawk Hijack Code As Passenger Tries To Storm Cockpit, Says He Has A Bomb

Published Nov 10, 2026, 4:01 AM EST A graduate in German, Jake has a passion for history and regional aviation, and enjoys sampling new carriers and aircraft. He has visited OEM facilities as far and wide as Bristol, Toulouse, and Seattle, and recently enjoyed the milestone of flying his 150th sector as a passenger. Based in Norfolk, UK. A United Airlines flight from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) took an eventful turn on Monday evening after a passenger reportedly tried to storm the cockpit. The alarming occurrence led the pilots to alert other United flights to the 'Level 4' threat — the most severe threat level indicating an attempted or actual breach of the cockpit — via the ACARS messaging system. The flight ultimately landed safely in New Orleans. The response of the crew, which included issuing the squawk code 7500 to indicate unlawful interference, shows how seriously such threats are taken. It also comes just weeks after another United aircraft diverted following reports of a passenger threatening to hijack the plane. An Eventful Flight to New Orleans Credit: Simple Flying United Airlines flight UA2174 is a regularly scheduled evening flight from Newark to New Orleans. On Monday, November 9, data from Flightradar24 shows that it took off two minutes early at 9:26 PM, and touched down 52 minutes ahead of schedule at 11:07 PM. However, during the flight, as flagged by FlightDeck on X, a male passenger is said to have tried to storm the Boeing 737 MAX 9's cockpit. The pilots squawked 7500 to alert air traffic control to the threat, and later reported that he had been wearing dark clothing and was carrying a backpack that he said contained a bomb. In an ACARS message to other United jets, they said that "we had an attempted level four, no other details are known at this time." 7500 was first squawked as the jet descended through 20,000 feet, and it landed safely. Simple Flying has reached out to United Airlines for further information on this incident. We will update our coverage upon receiving a response from the carrier. United Faced Another Similar Incident Recently Credit: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock By the time that N17422, the Boeing 737 MAX 9 operating United Airlines flight UA2174, had arrived at its gate in New Orleans on Monday night, had arrived at its gate, the passenger in question had been moved to the back of the aircraft and was sitting with cabin crew. Few other details are known at this point. However, given the serious nature of his actions on board, police officers were likely waiting for him. Airlines are always vigilant when it comes to the threat of hijack situations, but, at United, the danger is particularly timely. After all, it was just last month that one of its aircraft had to be diverted and locked down after a flight attendant saw a passenger sending texts about hijacking the plane. In this instance, the jet was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 (as seen above) that was flying from Las Vegas to Newark. With the suspicious messages spotted shortly after takeoff, the aircraft returned to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), where it was met by law enforcement, rather than continuing to Newark. According to People, the texter, a 25-year-old male passenger, was under the influence of alcohol and was later arrested for making false threats regarding terrorism. What Is Squawk 7500? Credit: KITTIKUN YOKSAP | Shutterstock In recent times, 'squawk 7500' has become an increasingly common phrase in coverage of such alarming incidents as these. Arguably the most notable this year was the attempted hijacking of flydubai flight FZ1073 on its way from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). This flight issued the squawk codes 7700 and 7500, but what do they mean, and why are they so important? Squawk codes are essentially four-digit numbers that pilots can set their aircraft's transponder to in order to indicate their status to ATC. 7700 is used as a general emergency indicator, highlighting that a plane needs priority treatment. 7500, meanwhile, shows a hijacking or unlawful interference, and it is a way of alerting ATC non-verbally without the hijackers knowing that controllers are aware of the situation.