A United Airlines flight bound for Spain returned to Newark Liberty International Airport Saturday evening after a potential security issue prompted the plane to turn around over the Atlantic Ocean.
United Flight 236 departed Newark en route to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, but reversed course about 90 minutes into the trip and landed in New Jersey later that evening.
A United Airlines spokesperson told FOX Business 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 safety issue,” the airline said in a statement. “The flight continued to Palma de Mallorca with a new crew.”
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A United Airlines Boeing 767 takes off. A United flight from Newark to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, returned to New Jersey after a potential safety issue prompted the plane to turn around over the Atlantic Ocean. (Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
AirLive.net reported that the incident began after flight attendants asked passengers to turn off their Bluetooth connections. Passengers later said the crew repeatedly warned that the request was coming from United’s operations center and that the flight could not continue until the problem was resolved.
A passenger told the outlet that crew members made several announcements about a potential safety issue related to a Bluetooth device and ultimately issued a final warning before the plane changed course.
The warnings reportedly became increasingly urgent as crew members attempted to identify the source of the device. Passengers cited by the publication said flight attendants indicated the problem had worsened and the plane could be forced to return if the problem was not resolved.
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A United Airlines flight from Newark to Spain turned around over the Atlantic and returned safely to New Jersey after a potential safety issue emerged on board. Reports indicate that the problem originated with a Bluetooth device whose visible name included (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File photo / Reuters Photos)
Air traffic control communications reviewed by AirLive.net indicated that the plane returned to Newark after concerns arose over the name of a Bluetooth-enabled device visible to others on board.
The outlet reported that the device’s detectable name included the word “bomb,” leading to a security response and the flight’s eventual return to Newark.
The flight crew ultimately decided to abort the trip and return to Newark rather than continue across the Atlantic with the problem unresolved, according to the report.
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Flight tracking data shows the route of United Airlines Flight 236, which turned around 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 officers and security personnel met the plane. The passengers were expelled while authorities carried out a safety inspection.
Travelers were only allowed to take a limited number of personal items with them when exiting the plane, according to the report. The passengers were then re-examined before board a replacement flightwhile the plane and checked baggage underwent additional security screening.
Passengers were transported around the airport while security personnel inspected the plane, according to the report.
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United has not publicly identified the passenger connected to the device or announced whether any fees or penalties are being considered.
FOX Business has reached out to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for additional information on the incident.
