A United flight turns over the Atlantic after an on-board device sounds an alarm
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A United Airlines flight bound for Spain returned to Newark Liberty International Airport Saturday night after a possible safety concern led to the plane turning over the Atlantic Ocean.
United Flight 236 left Newark for Palma de Mallorca, Spain, but was delayed about 90 minutes into the trip and returned to New Jersey later that night.
A United Airlines spokesperson told FOX Business that there were 190 passengers and 12 crew members on board the Boeing 767.
“United Flight 236 from Newark to Palma De Mallorca, Spain returned safely to Newark to address a potential security issue,” the airline said in a statement. “The flight continued to Palma De Mallorca with a new team.”
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A United Airlines Boeing 767 is flying. A United flight from Newark to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, returned to New Jersey after a possible safety concern caused the plane to turn over the Atlantic Ocean. (Andia Group/Universal Images via Getty Images / Getty Images)
AirLive.net reported that the incident began after flight attendants ordered passengers to turn off their Bluetooth connections. Passengers later said the crew repeatedly warned that the request came from United's operations center and that the flight would not continue unless the issue was resolved.
One passenger told the outlet that flight attendants made several announcements about potential Bluetooth-related security concerns and finally issued a final warning before the plane changed course.
These warnings are reported to be urgent as the staff tries to identify the source of the call. The passengers quoted in the brochure said that the flight staff indicated that the issue has become serious and that the flight may be forced to return if the issue is not resolved.
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A United Airlines flight from Newark to Spain diverted over the Atlantic and returned safely to New Jersey after security concerns were raised. Reports indicate that the problem is from a Bluetooth device whose virtual name is included (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo/Reuters Images)
Air traffic control communications reviewed by AirLive.net indicated that the flight returned to Newark after concerns were raised about the name of a Bluetooth-enabled device visible to other passengers.
The outlet reported that the device's name included the word “bomb,” which led to a security response and the plane's eventual return to Newark.
The flight crew finally decided to abandon the trip and return to Newark rather than continue across the Atlantic until the issue was resolved, according to the report.
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Flight tracking data shows the path of United Airlines Flight 236, which turned over the Atlantic Ocean and returned to Newark Liberty International Airport while en route to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on May 30, 2026. (Credit: FlightRadar24.com / Fox News)
After the plane landed safely, law enforcement and security personnel met the plane. Passengers were evacuated while authorities conducted security checks.
Travelers are allowed to take only a limited amount of personal belongings with them when exiting the plane, according to the report. Passengers are later screened again before boarding the replacement flight, while the aircraft and checked baggage undergo additional security checks.
Passengers were being escorted to the airport while security guards searched the plane, according to the report.
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United has not publicly identified the passenger connected to the device or announced any charges or fines are being considered.
FOX Business contacted the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for more information about the incident.
