A United Airlines flight bound for Palma de Mallorca, Spain, turned around midflight on Saturday due to a possible security threat involving a Bluetooth device named with a 'certain four-letter word,' according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
A United Airlines flight from Newark to Spain turned back due to a Bluetooth device named with a 'four-letter word,' prompting a security inspection. The plane was swept by authorities, passengers were rescreened, and the flight departed the next day.
- Flight UA236 returned to Newark after 3 hours midair
- Incident triggered by suspicious Bluetooth network name
- Aircraft inspected, passengers rescreened before reboarding
- Replacement flight departed Sunday morning for Palma de Mallorca
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 2 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incident Cause | 1 Difference | Majority reports Bluetooth device as cause; CBS cites FAA's statement about a passenger disturbance | ▼ |
| Flight Details | Broad Agreement | Flight UA236, 190 passengers, 12 crew members | |
| Flight Return Time | Broad Agreement | Flight returned to Newark at 9:37 p.m. |
Incident Cause
▼Majority reports Bluetooth device as cause; CBS cites FAA's statement about a passenger disturbance
Flight Details
Broad AgreementFlight UA236, 190 passengers, 12 crew members
Flight Return Time
Broad AgreementFlight returned to Newark at 9:37 p.m.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The Boeing 767 aircraft, carrying 190 passengers and 12 crew members, departed Newark Liberty International Airport around 6 p.m. but landed back at Newark at approximately 9:37 p.m., as reported by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
According to air traffic control audio obtained by LiveATC.net, security personnel inspected the aircraft after someone named their Bluetooth device a 'certain four-letter word.' Passengers were asked to turn off all Bluetooth devices, but two remained active. The flight turned around following communication with United Airlines' headquarters in Chicago.
Passengers had to evacuate as Port Authority police swept the aircraft. TSA and Customs and Border Patrol officers rescreened passengers before they could reboard. The airline declined to provide specifics on the cause of the incident, per HuffPost. Passengers boarded a replacement flight with a new crew early Sunday morning, which landed in Palma de Mallorca later that afternoon.
This incident is one of several recent security-related disruptions for United Airlines. On Friday, another domestic flight was diverted due to an unruly passenger, and earlier this month, a United flight struck a semitrailer truck and a light pole upon landing at Newark Airport, though no injuries were reported.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.