Security Concern Causes United Airlines Flight Turnaround

On July 18, 2018, a United Airlines flight heading to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, had to turn back to Newark due to a security issue involving a suspicious Bluetooth device on board.

According to flight tracking, the plane was supposed to complete a near eight-hour journey to Spain but returned to Newark after 4 hours and 24 minutes. United Airlines stated via email to NPR the turnaround was necessary to tackle a potential security threat.

Social media posts from passengers suggest the problem centered around a Bluetooth device. Photos and videos posted by passengers, which align with the flight’s schedule, indicate that the crew requested passengers to switch off Bluetooth devices. One passenger highlighted an in-flight announcement mentioning “this little joke is ruining it for everyone.”

Audio archived by LiveATC.net from air traffic control provides additional context. A voice queried about the flight, noting its return and stay on the tarmac, and another responded that a security detail was needed. This was due to a Bluetooth speaker on board labeled with a four-letter word, requiring a thorough inspection of the aircraft, including the cargo area, and evacuation of passengers.

The “four-letter word” that triggered security was not a curse word but “bomb.” A passenger shared on TikTok that a Bluetooth network had the name “BOMB,” and later confirmed her arrival in Palma de Mallorca through a video. Another Reddit post reported by a person claiming to be the spouse of a passenger indicated the problematic device was a teenager’s speaker.

Eventually, the flight reboarded and landed in Palma de Mallorca at 3:47 p.m. local time on Sunday, arriving around 9 and a half hours behind schedule.