United Airlines Flight Returns to Newark After Teen's Fitbit Named 'Bomb' Triggers Security Protocol

A United Airlines flight bound for Palma de Mallorca returned to Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday after a Bluetooth device listed as 'bomb' appeared on the aircraft's network. The plane departed Newark at about 6 p.m. and landed back at the airport roughly four hours later. Passengers were instructed to turn off electronic devices while security personnel inspected the plane.

Authority police and federal officers boarded the aircraft after landing. Passengers were directed to exit and were re-screened by Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection personnel before re-boarding. The device was later identified as a Fitbit belonging to a 16-year-old passenger. No local charges have been filed against the teenager.

"United flight 236 from Newark to Palma De Mallorca, Spain safely returned to Newark to address a potential security concern," a United spokesperson said. " The FBI is investigating the incident, according to sources familiar with the matter. The airline referred further questions to local authorities.

The event follows a separate United flight diversion on Friday, when a plane traveling from Chicago to Minneapolis was sent to Madison, Wisconsin, after an unruly passenger attempted to enter the cockpit.