United flight diverts to Pittsburgh over “possible security issue,” officials say

A United Airlines flight from Chicago to New York City diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport on Saturday afternoon over a “possible security issue,” authorities said, and passengers were forced to evacuate the plane using emergency slides. 

United Flight 2092 diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport and landed safely around 11:45 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday after the crew reported “a possible security issue,” the Federal Aviation Administration said. In a post on X, FBI Pittsburgh said it was aware of “a reported threat,” but provided no details on the nature of the situation. 

The flight, a Boeing 737, departed from Chicago O’Hare International Airport and was traveling to LaGuardia Airport. It had 159 passengers and six crew on board. 

United said in a statement to CBS News that passengers “evacuated the aircraft via slides,” describing the diversion as due to a
“potential security concern.”

A spokesperson for the Allegheny County Airport Authority said in a statement that the county police bomb squad and K-9s screened the plane “with negative results,” and law enforcement cleared the scene. It was not immediately clear what officers were screening for or what the “reported threat” was. 

“Safety and security is always the top priority at Pittsburgh International Airport,” the airport spokesperson said. “Our emergency crews responded quickly to the reported incident. Our teams activated to assist the crew in evacuating the aircraft and transported the passengers safely to the terminal.” 

The passengers deplaned safely, and no injuries were reported. Pittsburgh International Airport remained open and operational, authorities said. The FBI said the investigation continues.