United flight returns to Newark over Bluetooth threat

A United Airlines flight bound for Spain was forced to return to Newark Liberty International Airport Saturday evening after a potential security threat emerged midflight. The Boeing 767, carrying 190 passengers and 12 crew members, had departed around 6 p.m. for Palma de Mallorca and landed back at Newark at 9:37 p.m., according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The incident stemmed from a passenger naming a Bluetooth device with a threatening word, according to air traffic control audio and passenger accounts. Multiple passengers posting on social media reported that crew members repeatedly asked all passengers to turn off their Bluetooth connections, issuing a one-minute warning that two devices remained active. The flight turned around after communicating with the airline's headquarters in Chicago.

Upon landing, the aircraft was met by security personnel. Passengers evacuated as Port Authority police swept the plane, and they were rescreened by Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection officers before reboarding. The airline declined to provide specifics on the cause but stated the return was to address a potential security concern.