Man arrested after claiming he had a bomb aboard United Airlines flight bound for New Orleans

New Orleans: A 34-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly claiming he had a bomb aboard a United Airlines flight bound for New Orleans, prompting a security response after the aircraft landed safely, authorities said.

The man began behaving irrationally late on Monday evening during the flight from Newark, New Jersey, and reportedly told crew members that he had a bomb, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said on Tuesday.

The passenger was not identified. The aircraft landed safely at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, where law enforcement officers arrested him without incident.

He was taken to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Centre and booked on charges of communicating false information of planned arson and terrorising, the sheriff's office said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would investigate the incident, which took place aboard a United Airlines flight.

In a statement, United Airlines said the aircraft landed safely “following a disruptive incident involving a passenger onboard” and that law enforcement “met the aircraft upon arrival.”

The Boeing 737 Max 9 was carrying 46 passengers and six crew members.

The incident comes weeks after a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following a violent altercation in the cockpit between two pilots.

The aircraft, Flight FZ1073, transmitted emergency signals, including a code associated with unlawful interference or a possible hijacking, prompting a security alert. The Boeing 737 landed safely, and all passengers and crew members were accounted for.