United Airlines flight to Spain forced to return over potential security threat
The incident reportedly stemmed from a passenger naming their Bluetooth device a ‘certain four-letter word’ (Mira Oberman/AFP via Getty Images)
A United Airlines flight from Newark to Palma de Mallorca was forced to return to Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday evening due to a potential security threat.
The incident reportedly occurred after a passenger named their Bluetooth device a “certain four-letter word,” leading to the aircraft’s return for inspection.
Upon landing, the Boeing 767, carrying 190 passengers and 12 crew, was swept by Port Authority police, and passengers were rescreened by TSA and Customs and Border Patrol.
Passengers subsequently boarded a replacement flight with a new crew, which departed early Sunday morning and successfully landed in Palma later that afternoon.
This event follows other recent incidents for United Airlines, including a flight diversion due to an unruly passenger attempting to breach a cockpit and another flight striking a truck and light pole at Newark.
