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United Flight Diverted to Newark After Obscene Bluetooth Name; Plane Searched, Passengers Rebooked
A United Airlines flight from Newark to Spain turned around mid-flight Saturday after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The aircraft landed back at Newark at 9:37 p.m. and passengers transferred to a replacement flight that reached Palma the next afternoon.
Jun 1, 9:34 AM·1m read4 sources
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A United Airlines flight bound for Spain from Newark Liberty International Airport returned to Newark on Saturday after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The Boeing 767, carrying 190 passengers and 12 crew members, departed around 6 p.m. and landed back at Newark at 9:37 p.m., according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Air traffic control audio indicated that security personnel inspected the aircraft, including the cargo area, after a passenger named a Bluetooth device with a four-letter word. Crew members asked passengers to turn off all Bluetooth devices, but two remained active, a passenger posted on social media. Passengers evacuated onto a bus while Port Authority police searched the aircraft.
The flight turned around after the crew communicated with airline headquarters in Chicago. Passengers boarded a replacement flight with a new crew that departed early Sunday morning and arrived in Palma in the afternoon. The airline declined to provide further details on the cause of the incident.
The FAA stated that United Airlines Flight 236 returned to Newark after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The FAA also reported more than 640 unruly passenger incidents involving U.S. airlines so far in 2026. This was the latest incident involving a United Airlines flight this month.
On Friday, a domestic United flight was diverted due to an unruly passenger. Earlier this month, another United flight struck a semitrailer truck and a light pole while landing at Newark.
