A United Airlines flight bound for Palma de Mallorca, Spain, turned around and landed back at Newark late Saturday night – apparently because a Bluetooth device name on the plane set off security concerns.
Air traffic control audio and social media posts from passengers indicate the name of an onboard Bluetooth device drew scrutiny from crew or security personnel. The flight diverted back to Newark after the issue surfaced. No other details about the specific device name or who flagged it have been confirmed.
It’s not clear from available information whether law enforcement met the aircraft on the ground, whether passengers were removed, or how long the delay lasted. The airline hasn’t publicly addressed what screening or follow-up steps were taken after the plane returned to the gate.
Bluetooth device names are set by users and can display any text the owner chooses – including phrases that could be read as threatening. Airlines and federal security officials have dealt with similar incidents before, though the frequency is hard to pin down without an official count.
NPR, which reported the incident Saturday, May 31, did not identify the passenger associated with the device or say whether any charges were filed.
Reporting by NPR. Read the original report.
