In an unexpected turn of events, a United Airlines flight heading from Newark Liberty International Airport to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, made an abrupt return to Newark on Saturday evening due to a potential security threat.
The Boeing 767, carrying 190 passengers and 12 crew members, took off around 6 p.m. However, it was back on the ground at Newark by 9:37 p.m., as reported by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The sequence of events unfolded following an unusual incident involving a Bluetooth device.
According to air traffic control communications, the situation escalated when a passenger’s Bluetooth device was named with a provocative four-letter word. Despite crew members’ requests for passengers to disable all Bluetooth devices, two remained on, prompting further action. After consulting with the airline’s headquarters in Chicago, the decision was made to return the aircraft to Newark.
Upon landing, the aircraft was thoroughly inspected by Port Authority police. Meanwhile, passengers were asked to disembark and were subjected to rescreening procedures by TSA and Customs and Border Patrol before being allowed to reboard. United Airlines opted not to disclose specific details regarding the incident.
Fortunately, the passengers were able to continue their journey aboard a replacement flight with a fresh crew. This flight departed in the early hours of Sunday and successfully arrived in Palma later that afternoon.
This incident adds to a troubling series of events for United Airlines this month. Just a day prior, another United flight was redirected due to a security issue involving an unruly passenger. Additionally, earlier in the month, a United aircraft encountered a collision with a semitrailer truck and a light pole while landing at Newark, though no injuries were reported.
