A United Airlines flight was forced to divert due to a possible bomb threat shortly after take-off. Flight UA2092 declared an emergency after departing Chicago O’Hare International Airport bound for New York on Saturday morning. Flight tracking app FlightDeck said the emergency and subsequent diversion to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was due to a “bomb threat”.
The 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 Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) and shared on social media show that a “possible bomb” was mentioned.
One message says, “ONE SECOND COUNT PER BEEP / POSSIBLE BOMB”, indicating that the crew believed there was a potential explosive threat, possibly linked to a repetitive beeping sound or an item matching that description.
The messages also suggest that crew and ground teams weighed diversion options, with “CLE OR PIT” referring to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport or Pittsburgh, and “KORD KLGA” identifying the original route using airport codes.
A timestamp of “CREW 15:42Z / 10:42 CDT” places the exchange at around 10:42am local time in Chicago.
Squawk 7700 is a universal transponder code used by pilots to indicate a general, in-flight emergency, instantly alerting Air Traffic Control (ATC) to the need for priority handling, immediate assistance, and cleared airspace.
It is the aviation equivalent of Mayday, signalling situations like engine failure, medical issues, or technical faults.
Upon receiving a bomb threat, pilots immediately declare a 7700 emergency to ATC. This allows the crew to prioritise landing and receive immediate attention upon touchdown, such as holding in a remote area for police.