Overview
- A passenger noticed a Bluetooth device labeled "Bomb" on their phone while a United Boeing 767 was en route from Newark to Palma de Mallorca and alerted crew, prompting air traffic control to order the plane back to Newark.
- Pilots reversed course about an hour after takeoff and the aircraft was moved to a remote stand so federal security teams could inspect the cabin and hold the aircraft apart from the terminal.
- All 190 passengers and 12 crew were transferred to the terminal and subjected to a new security screening while agents collected devices for review.
- A 16-year-old on board admitted owning the Bluetooth speaker and was taken into federal custody for questioning; it remains unclear whether prosecutors will bring formal charges.
- The flight later resumed and landed in Palma de Mallorca more than nine hours late, and authorities say the case highlights how user-assigned device names can prompt full aviation-security responses and possible criminal penalties.