A United Airlines flight to Spain turns back to Newark after a possible security threat midair
The airline said 190 passengers and 12 crew members were on board as authorities searched the aircraft and rescreened travelers after the alert.
- On Saturday night, United Airlines Flight 236 from Newark to Palma de Mallorca returned to Newark Liberty International Airport after a Bluetooth device named "BOMB" triggered a mid-flight security scare over the Atlantic Ocean.
- Crew members identified the suspicious Bluetooth signal about two hours into the journey; after issuing increasingly urgent warnings for passengers to disable devices, the captain turned the Boeing 767-424 around toward Newark.
- Carrying 190 passengers and 12 crew members, the aircraft landed safely at 9:37 p.m., where police officers and airport security personnel immediately met the plane to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
- Authorities determined no explosive threat existed after a full search of the aircraft and cargo; passengers were rescreened by TSA and Customs and Border Protection before boarding a replacement flight.
- Security experts maintain that airlines cannot ignore potential threats, as even harmlessly named devices trigger mandatory aviation protocols, forcing significant operational disruptions for transatlantic travelers on affected routes.
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United Airlines Flight Turns Around After Teen's Device Named 'Bomb' Appears on Bluetooth
A United Airlines flight heading to Spain was forced to turn around mid-flight on Saturday after a Bluetooth device belonging to a teenager appeared with the name 'Bomb' on other passengers' screens. United Flight 236, a Boeing 767-400ER, had departed Newark Liberty International Airport for Palma de Mallorca in the early evening when the issue arose roughly an hour into the journey. Several passengers noticed the discoverable network and alerte…
United Airlines flight to Spain returned “halfway” in the middle of the ocean. A United Airlines flight to Spain was forced to turn around immediately and return to the airport of departure. The reason was a potential safety hazard caused by the provocative name of one of the passengers's Bluetooth device. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to The Independent. Read also: Kaliningrad Airport was closed to flights for the first time si…
Spain-bound flight turns back to New Jersey after Bluetooth 'bomb' triggers panic
A United Airlines flight to Palma de Mallorca returned to Newark after a Bluetooth device name triggered a security alert. The scare was later traced to a teenager's Fitbit, but the incident prompted screenings and an FBI inquiry.
Crew Turns Plane Around Over Bluetooth Device's Name
A four-letter word on a passenger's electronic device was enough to send a transatlantic flight back to New Jersey. United Flight 236 from Newark to Palma de Mallorca turned around over the Atlantic on Saturday after crew members were alerted to a discoverable Bluetooth device whose name raised a security...
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