A prominent commercial flight was compelled to alter its course drastically following the declaration of a ‘bomb scare.’
United Airlines flight UAL2092 departing from Chicago en route to New York on April 18 was diverted to Pittsburgh earlier in the day. Upon reaching cruising altitude, the aircraft signaled an in-flight emergency by issuing a 7700 squawk code. This code is used to indicate emergencies, leading to protocols where the plane is directed to a remote area for passenger deplaning and a thorough search of the aircraft.
Flight radar tracking data displayed the aircraft changing its route mid-air due to the reported threat, steering towards Pittsburgh airport. A flight tracking application indicated that the plane cited a “‘possible bomb” as the reason for diverting.
The United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 transmitted the 7700 squawk code and additional messages via ACARS, shedding light on the emergency diversion of United Airlines flight UA2092. The aircraft, operating from Chicago O’Hare to New York LaGuardia, was diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport for a security sweep after crew concerns were raised onboard.
During communication exchanges, a significant message, “ONE SECOND COUNT PER BEEP / POSSIBLE BOMB,” suggested the crew suspected a potential explosive threat, potentially related to a repetitive beeping sound or an object matching that description. The crew and ground teams discussed diversion options, with references to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport or Pittsburgh and the original route using ICAO airport codes.
The timestamp of “CREW 15:42Z / 10:42 CDT” indicated the exchange occurred around 15:42 UTC (10:42 am local time in Chicago). In instances involving a reported “possible bomb” message, standard procedure involves squawking 7700 to alert air traffic control to a general emergency and receive priority handling for a safe landing.
