United Airlines Flight Returns to Newark Due to Suspicious Bluetooth Device

On a United Airlines flight from Newark, N.J., to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, a security concern prompted an unexpected return to Newark late Saturday. The flight, which was expected to land in Spain after almost eight hours, turned around after four hours and 24 minutes in the air.

United Airlines communicated to NPR via email that the decision to return was made to address a potential security concern. Several passengers on social media identified the cause as a suspiciously named Bluetooth device on the plane. Images and videos shared online by these passengers, featuring timestamps consistent with the flight’s timeline, confirmed the occurrence.

Passengers reported that flight attendants instructed them to switch off their Bluetooth devices. One social media post mentioned in-flight announcements with remarks like, ‘this little joke is ruining it for everyone.’

LiveATC.net, an air traffic control archive, provided further insight into the event. During a recorded conversation, one voice inquired about the situation of the flight landed back at Newark. In response, another voice disclosed that a security detail was on site due to a Bluetooth speaker named with a specific four-letter word. Consequently, the entire aircraft, including the cargo area, required inspection, and passengers had to evacuate.

The ‘four-letter word’ referenced did not allude to a curse but instead indicated a term that triggered security protocols. One self-identified passenger on TikTok mentioned a Bluetooth network labeled ‘BOMB.’ She shared a video of herself enjoying sangria in Palma de Mallorca after the delayed arrival. Correspondingly, a Reddit post described the device as a teenager’s speaker, with the word ‘bomb’ being the term in question.

Ultimately, the flight reboarded and safely reached Palma de Mallorca at 3:47 p.m. local time on Sunday, approximately nine and a half hours later than scheduled.