Message on Mirror Sparks Bomb Scare, Jet Turns Around

What started as a routine overnight flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles quickly spiraled into a full-blown federal investigation. United Airlines Flight 1169, packed with hundreds of passengers, was somewhere over the Pacific Ocean when someone spotted an unsettling message scrawled on a bathroom mirror.

'Message on the Mirror': The Incident Unfolds

United Flight 1169 departed from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on May 20, 2025, bound for Los Angeles International Airport. About 90 minutes into the flight, a crew member discovered what United called a potential security concern written on the mirror of one of the aircraft's lavatories.

That vague description cloaked the seriousness of the situation. According to passengers who later spoke with local media, the message reportedly stated there was a bomb on the plane.

The flight, carrying 339 passengers and 10 crew members, made a U-turn and headed back to Honolulu. It landed safely on May 21.

Hours on the Tarmac and Federal Response

Once back on the ground, the situation became even more tense. The passengers weren't immediately allowed to disembark. For nearly four hours, they remained on the plane as bomb-sniffing dogs and security teams methodically swept the aircraft. Each person was screened individually before exiting.

"Later I found out through the airport security manager that someone had written on the bathroom mirror that there was a bomb on the plane," one passenger, Kouhei Massey, told Hawaii News Now.

Christi Wright, another passenger, only learned about the bomb threat after being evacuated. "It's a good thing we didn't know that on the plane," she said, according to PEOPLE. "That would have been really bad."

Investigation Ongoing

Local law enforcement deferred all questions to the FBI, which confirmed it is investigating but has not disclosed any further details.

No arrests have been made at this time, and authorities have not said whether any suspect has been identified.

The airline swiftly rebooked passengers on another flight to Los Angeles later that same day.

High Stakes in the Skies

While the contents of the message have not been officially released, the reaction from authorities reflects the heightened sensitivity surrounding air travel threats — even those that might turn out to be false alarms.

From cockpit doors to TSA screenings, aviation security has evolved dramatically over the past two decades. Still, incidents like this one prove that new threats — or pranks — can bring flights to a grinding halt.

References: United Airlines flight returns to Hawaii after concerning message found on bathroom mirror; FBI investigating | United Airlines Flight Turns Around After a Threatening Message Was Written on the Lavatory Mirror | United Airlines Flight Forced To Turn Around After Concerning Message Found On Bathroom Mirror | United flight returns to Honolulu after threatening message found on lavatory mirror