United Airlines Flight Security Scare Forces Transatlantic U-Turn

A United Airlines flight bound for Palma de Mallorca was forced to turn back after a passenger's Bluetooth device name triggered a security scare. UA236, a Boeing 767-300, departed Newark Liberty International Airport around 6:00 p.m. and diverted over the Atlantic. Flight attendants issued a safety PA and passengers were told to disable Bluetooth devices. The crew declared an emergency and returned to Newark, landing at 9:37 p.m. All 190 passengers and crew were evacuated on arrival as police and K-9 units swept the cabin and holds. Investigators traced the signal to a 16-year-old passenger’s customized fitness tracker; no explosive device or real threat was found. United provided accommodations and rescheduled the flight for the following day, with authorities reminding the public about the consequences of naming devices with threatening terms in secure environments.