A United Airlines aircraft en route to Spain from Newark Liberty International Airport was forced to return Saturday evening following a potential security incident during the flight.
The Boeing 767 had taken off around 6 p.m. Saturday bound for Palma de Mallorca, Spain, but made an emergency return to Newark, touching down at 9:37 p.m., the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported. The aircraft was carrying 190 passengers along with 12 crew members.
Air traffic control recordings revealed that security personnel were called to examine the plane after a traveler had given their Bluetooth device an inappropriate four-letter name. A passenger’s social media post described how flight attendants made multiple announcements requesting all passengers disable their Bluetooth devices, yet two remained active. The decision to return was made following consultation with the airline’s Chicago headquarters.
All passengers were required to exit the aircraft while Port Authority police conducted a thorough security sweep. Following the inspection, travelers underwent additional screening by TSA and Customs and Border Patrol agents before being cleared to continue their journey. The airline chose not to elaborate on the specific details surrounding the incident.
A substitute aircraft with fresh crew members was provided for passengers, departing early Sunday morning and successfully reaching Palma that afternoon.
This marks another in a series of recent United Airlines incidents this month. Just Friday, another United flight was rerouted due to security issues involving a disruptive passenger. Earlier in the month, a United aircraft arriving at Newark airport collided with a semitrailer truck and a light pole, though the incident resulted in no injuries.
