Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe incident reportedly stemmed from a passenger naming their Bluetooth device a ‘certain four-letter word’ (Mira Oberman/AFP via Getty Images)A United Airlines flight from Newark to Palma de Mallorca was forced to return to Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday evening due to a potential security threat. The incident reportedly occurred after a passenger named their Bluetooth device a "certain four-letter word," leading to the aircraft's return for inspection. Upon landing, the Boeing 767, carrying 190 passengers and 12 crew, was swept by Port Authority police, and passengers were rescreened by TSA and Customs and Border Patrol. Passengers subsequently boarded a replacement flight with a new crew, which departed early Sunday morning and successfully landed in Palma later that afternoon. This event follows other recent incidents for United Airlines, including a flight diversion due to an unruly passenger attempting to breach a cockpit and another flight striking a truck and light pole at Newark. In fullUnited Airlines flight to Spain diverted back Newark over Bluetooth device nameThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
United Airlines flight to Spain forced to return over potential security threat
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe incident reportedly stemmed from a passenger naming their Bluetooth device a ‘certain four-letter word’ (Mira Oberman/AFP via Getty Images)A United Airlines flight from Newark to Palma de Mallorca was forced to return to Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday evening due to a potential security threat. The incident reportedly occurred after a passenger named their Bluetooth device a "certain four-letter word," leading to the aircraft's return for inspection. Upon landing, the Boeing 767, carrying 190 passengers and 12 crew, was swept by Port Authority police, and passengers were rescreened by TSA and Customs and Border Patrol. Passengers subsequently boarded a replacement flight with a new crew, which departed early Sunday morning and successfully landed in Palma later that afternoon. This event follows other recent incidents for United Airlines, including a flight diversion due to an unruly passenger attempting to breach a cockpit and another flight striking a truck and light pole at Newark. In fullUnited Airlines flight to Spain diverted back Newark over Bluetooth device nameThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
United Airlines Boeing 767 Newark–Palma returned to Newark after a passenger's Bluetooth device name triggered a security alert, requiring police sweep and TSA rescreening of 190 passengers. Bluetooth broadcast names on personal devices can now activate full aviation security protocols—a gap worth addressing in corporate device and travel management policies.
