Key Takeaways:
- United flight returns to Newark over four hours into its flight to Spain.
- The turnaround was triggered by a Bluetooth speaker reportedly named “BOMB” during the flight.
- The flight landed safely in Mallorca on Sunday, suffering a nine-and-a-half-hour delay.
A United Airlines flight bound for Palma de Mallorca, Spain, returned to Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday after a Bluetooth device on board was reportedly labeled with the word “BOMB,” prompting a security response and a full aircraft inspection.
Security alert forces mid-flight turnaround
United Airlines Flight UA198 departed Newark on Saturday evening and was en route to Palma de Mallorca when it reversed course approximately four hours and 24 minutes into the journey. Flight tracking data showed the aircraft returning to Newark instead of continuing on its nearly eight-hour transatlantic route.
United Airlines said in an emailed statement that the United Flight Returns to Newark “to address a potential security concern.” The airline did not provide additional details about the nature of the threat.
Passengers posting on social media said flight attendants instructed travelers to turn off Bluetooth-enabled devices during the flight. Several passengers reported hearing announcements indicating that a prank or joke involving a Bluetooth device had triggered concern among the crew.
Reports point to bluetooth device name
Audio from air traffic control communications archived by LiveATC.net provided additional details after the aircraft landed. In the recording, one individual said security personnel were responding because a Bluetooth speaker had been assigned a suspicious four-letter name.
“There’s a security detail out there, someone had a Bluetooth speaker, and they named it a certain four-letter word,” one voice said in the recording. The speaker added that authorities needed to inspect the aircraft, including the cargo area, and evacuate passengers.
Multiple social media posts from self-identified passengers suggested the Bluetooth network was labeled “BOMB.” One passenger wrote on TikTok that an active Bluetooth network with that name appeared during the flight. Another post on Reddit, attributed to the spouse of a passenger, claimed the device belonged to a teenager and was a portable speaker.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed the owner of the device or whether any charges were filed in the incident that led to a United Flight Returns to Newark security response.
Flight reaches Spain after lengthy delay
Following security procedures and inspection of the aircraft, passengers were allowed to reboard the flight. The plane later departed Newark and continued to Palma de Mallorca.
Flight records show the aircraft arrived in Spain at 3:47 p.m. local time Sunday, approximately nine and a half hours behind schedule. After a United flight returned to Newark, the journey was disrupted.
The incident highlights the aviation industry’s strict security protocols, which require airlines to investigate potential threats regardless of their source. Security experts have long noted that even apparent jokes or false alarms can trigger mandatory responses under airline safety regulations.
United Airlines has not announced whether additional measures will be taken following the incident. Airport and federal authorities have not released further information about the investigation.
