Newark-to-Spain United Flight, Carrying 202 People, Forced Back After Threat Detected Midair

A United Airlines flight headed to Spain returned to Newark Liberty International Airport on the night of 30th May after a possible security threat. This prompted the officials to inspect the aircraft.

The Boeing 767, carrying 190 passengers and 12 crew members, had departed Newark around 6 p.m. for Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The flight was flying over the Atlantic when the crew turned the aircraft around. It made a safety landing back in Newark at 9:37 p.m., according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

After landing, passengers were evacuated while Port Authority police searched the plane. Travelers were later screened again by the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection before being allowed to board another aircraft.

United Airlines did not provide details about the threat but confirmed the flight returned because of a security concern. Reportedly, the Boeing 767 was delayed by nearly two hours.

Air traffic control recordings claim that the issue may have been linked to a Bluetooth device name discovered during the flight.

According to the audio, security personnel were asked to inspect the aircraft after someone reportedly named a Bluetooth device using what was described as a “certain four-letter word.”

Apparently, the Bluetooth device was linked to a teenager, and it is not made clear if the device name was an intentional prank or a wrong choice. The owner admitted their fault, which allowed the officials to close the case then.

One passenger who posted about the incident on social media said flight attendants repeatedly asked travelers to switch off their Bluetooth devices. However, two devices continued to appear on the aircraft’s systems despite those requests, according to a passenger.

The flight crew then communicated with United’s operations center in Chicago before deciding to return to Newark. Authorities completed a sweep of the aircraft after it landed. No injuries were reported, and officials did not report any arrests.

Following the inspection and additional screening procedures, passengers boarded a replacement flight with a new crew early on May 31.

The replacement aircraft later arrived in Palma de Mallorca on the same day, bringing the delayed trip to an end. The incident is the latest involving a United Airlines flight this month.

On May 29, another United flight within the United States was diverted because of a security concern involving an unruly passenger.

Meanwhile, earlier in the month, a United aircraft arriving at Newark struck a semitrailer truck and a light pole while on the ground. No injuries were reported in that incident.