A United Airlines flight travelling from Newark, New Jersey, to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, was forced to turn back mid-air after an onboard security concern linked to a Bluetooth device triggered an alert.
United Flight 236 departed Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday evening and was already over the Atlantic Ocean when the crew decided to reverse course and return to Newark. The Boeing 767 was carrying 190 passengers and 12 crew members.
The concern emerged after a Bluetooth device with a suspicious name appeared among nearby discoverable connections visible to passengers and crew. The alert prompted flight attendants to repeatedly ask travellers to switch off Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Bluetooth name sparks alarm onboard
According to the reports of NDTV, multiple passengers later claimed on social media that a Bluetooth network labelled “BOMB” had appeared during the flight. Even after repeated announcements asking passengers to disable Bluetooth connections, the signal reportedly remained active, leading to increased concern among the crew.
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Air traffic control audio reviewed by several media outlets suggested that airline staff treated the situation as a potential security threat. According to the recordings, authorities requested a full inspection of the aircraft after learning that a Bluetooth device had been given a concerning name.
Investigation points to teenager’s device
The device belonged to a 16-year-old passenger and was allegedly a Fitbit or Bluetooth speaker that had been renamed as a prank. Authorities reportedly determined that the device itself posed no threat.
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After the aircraft landed safely in Newark, passengers were asked to disembark while Port Authority police, including K9 units, conducted a sweep of the plane. Travellers were also rescreened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection before being allowed to board again.
Flight resumes journey after checks
As per NDTV’s report , the United Airlines confirmed that the aircraft returned to Newark “to address a potential security concern.” The airline later arranged for the flight to continue to Palma de Mallorca with a new crew after the inspection was completed.
No local charges had been filed against the teenager as of Sunday, although the FBI was said to be reviewing the incident.
The incident has drawn attention online, with many pointing to how even a seemingly harmless device name can trigger serious aviation security protocols and cause major disruptions to international travel.
