United flight turns back to Newark after Bluetooth device named 'bomb'

A United Airlines Boeing 767 carrying 190 passengers turned back to Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday after a passenger's Bluetooth device was named "bomb," prompting an evacuation and full security rescreening, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The incident is the third United Airlines security event reported in early June 2026, highlighting how consumer Bluetooth device names can trigger costly in-flight diversions under federal security protocols.

Flight UA 192, a Boeing 767, departed Newark around 6 p.m. Saturday bound for Palma de Mallorca, Spain, with 190 passengers and 12 crew members aboard, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Crew members made repeated requests during the flight for all Bluetooth devices to be switched off. When two devices remained active, crew identified that one bore a name containing a threatening term. United Airlines consulted with its Chicago headquarters before deciding to divert, and the aircraft landed back at Newark at 9:37 p.m.

Passengers evacuated the plane after landing as Port Authority police swept the aircraft. TSA and U.S. Customs officials then rescreened all travelers before clearing them to reboard, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

United Airlines arranged a replacement aircraft staffed by a new crew. Passengers departed early Sunday morning and arrived in Palma de Mallorca that afternoon.

The episode follows two other United Airlines incidents reported in early June 2026 — a diverted domestic flight and a separate ground collision — according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Passengers on the replacement flight arrived in Palma de Mallorca on Sunday afternoon, more than half a day behind schedule, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. No injuries were reported in connection with the diversion.