United Airlines flight diverted due to ‘bomb scare’ as plane sends emergency code

United Airlines flight UA2092, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, declared an emergency on Saturday, 18 April, shortly after taking off from Chicago O’Hare for New York LaGuardia, according to reports

A plane bound for New York has been forced to divert due to a bomb scare. The United Airlines flight UAL2092 from Chicago was diverted to Pittsburgh on Saturday morning local time.

Flight radar data shows the plane flew off its course and headed towards Pittsburgh airport. A flight tracking app reported the plane sent an alert declaring “‘possible bomb” as the reason for its diversion.

The aircraft, a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8, is said to have squawked 7700, the transponder code used to signal an in-flight emergency, after reaching cruising altitude. Messages reportedly sent via ACARS, which have been shared on X, have shed further light on the emergency diversion of United Airlines flight UA2092.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating from Chicago O’Hare to New York LaGuardia, declared an emergency after concerns were raised on board, with the aircraft later diverting to Pittsburgh International Airport for what was described as a security sweep.

The most serious line in the communications, “ONE SECOND COUNT PER BEEP / POSSIBLE BOMB”, indicates the crew believed there was a potential explosive threat, possibly linked to a repetitive beeping sound or an item matching that description. Other text suggests the flight crew and ground teams weighed diversion options, with “CLE OR PIT” referring to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport or Pittsburgh, while “KORD KLGA” identifies the original route using ICAO airport codes.

A timestamp of “CREW 15:42Z / 10:42 CDT” places the exchange at around 15:42 UTC (10:42am local time in Chicago). In incidents involving a reported “possible bomb” message, standard procedure typically includes the crew squawking 7700 to alert air traffic control to a general emergency and receiving priority handling for the quickest safe landing.

In aviation, a “squawk” is a four-digit code that pilots input into an aircraft’s transponder to identify the plane and its status to air traffic control (ATC). On arrival, after a 7700 alert, aircraft are often directed to a remote stand where passengers can be taken off and the plane searched, with law enforcement and specialist teams inspecting the aircraft and baggage.

The Daily Star has contacted United Airlines for comment.

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