tech

United flight to Spain turns back midair after possible security threat

Security came to inspect aircraft in Newark after report of Bluetooth device with a ‘certain four-letter word’

United flight to Spain turns back midair after possible security threat

TL;DR

  • A United Airlines flight bound for Palma de Mallorca, Spain, returned to Newark Liberty International Airport due to a possible security threat.
  • The threat reportedly involved a passenger's Bluetooth device being named a "certain four-letter word."
  • Passengers were evacuated from the Boeing 767 aircraft and re-screened by TSA and CBP officers.
  • This incident marks at least the third major aviation episode involving a United Airlines flight in four weeks.
  • A previous incident involved an unruly passenger attempting to breach the cockpit on a flight to Minneapolis.
  • Another incident on May 3rd saw a United flight strike a light pole and a delivery truck upon landing at Newark.