United Flight Returns to Newark After Possible Security Concern

A United Airlines Boeing 767 bound for Palma de Mallorca, Spain, departed Newark Liberty International Airport around 6 p.m. on Saturday before returning to Newark at 9:37 p.m. due to a potential security issue.

The incident follows a United flight from Chicago to Minneapolis that was diverted to Madison, Wisconsin, on Friday after an unruly passenger attempted to enter the cockpit.

The Newark‑to‑Mallorca flight carried 190 passengers and 12 crew members. Air‑traffic‑control recordings indicate that security officials inspected the aircraft after a passenger labeled their Bluetooth device with a profane four‑letter word. A passenger on social media reported that crew repeatedly asked passengers to disable Bluetooth devices, but two remained active, prompting the decision to turn the plane around after consultation with United’s headquarters in Chicago.

Port Authority police evacuated the aircraft and conducted a sweep. TSA and CBP officers re‑screened all passengers before they were allowed to board a replacement flight, which departed early Sunday morning and arrived in Palma de Mallorca in the afternoon.

United declined to disclose further details about the cause of the disruption.

This marks the third notable United Airlines incident in four weeks. On May 3, a United flight landing at Newark struck a light pole and a delivery truck; the truck driver suffered minor injuries, and no other injuries were reported.

Guardian staff contributed reporting

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