A United Airlines flight bound for Spain was forced to return to Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday after a Bluetooth device with a threatening name prompted a security alert, U.S. media reported.
The Boeing 767 took off around 6 p.m. for Palma de Mallorca but turned back and landed at 8:50 p.m. after crew members discovered a Bluetooth device labeled with a four‑letter threat. AirLive later reported the device name contained the word “BOMB.”
Passengers were repeatedly instructed to switch off all Bluetooth‑enabled devices, but two remained active, according to a traveler posting on social media. Security teams inspected the aircraft once it returned to Newark.
The crew made the decision after consulting United’s operations center in Chicago. The flight carried 190 passengers and 12 crew members.
Passengers were evacuated with only passports and phones, then rescreened by TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection before boarding a replacement aircraft with a new crew. United declined to comment on the cause of the incident.
It was the latest security‑related disruption for the airline this month. A domestic United flight was diverted Friday over concerns about an unruly passenger, and earlier in May a Wi‑Fi hotspot name led a United pilot to warn that the person responsible could face FBI questioning upon landing.