United Flight Returns to Newark Liberty International Airport After Bluetooth Name
A United Airlines flight from newark liberty international airport to Palma de Mallorca turned back on Saturday after a possible security threat tied to a passenger's Bluetooth device name. The Boeing 767 landed back at Newark at 9:37 p.m. with 190 passengers and 12 crew members on board.
United Flight 236
The airline said Flight 236 departed Newark around 6 p.m. on Saturday. According to air traffic control audio, security was called to inspect the aircraft after someone named their Bluetooth device a four-letter word. The tower said the full aircraft had to be checked, including the cargo area.
A passenger post on social media said crew members repeatedly asked travelers to turn off all Bluetooth devices, and that two devices remained on before the flight turned around after contact with the airline's headquarters in Chicago. Passengers then evacuated while Port Authority police swept the aircraft.
Re-screening at Newark
Passengers were re-screened by TSA and Customs and Border Patrol before they boarded a replacement flight with a new crew. That flight took off early Sunday morning and landed in Palma in the afternoon, ending the delay for everyone who had been sent back to Newark.
FAA Security Response
The FAA said United Airlines Flight 236 returned to Newark Liberty International Airport after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The airline declined to provide specifics on the cause, but the case came as airlines had reported more than 640 unruly passenger incidents so far in 2026.
For travelers on the route, the practical step was re-screening and re-boarding under a new crew before the trip could continue. The response at Newark showed how quickly a device name can trigger a full security check, a cabin evacuation, and a fresh departure on the same itinerary.
