Threats to the safety of passengers and crew members are taken very seriously aboard commercial airline flights. Anything or anyone suspicious is investigated and dealt with promptly. So it was no surprise when the crew of United Airlines Flight 236 took drastic but very necessary steps to keep everyone safe on a flight from Newark to Mallorca on Saturday, May 30. Just one hour into the trip, the plane abruptly turned around. It went right back to its point of origin, Newark Liberty International Airport, in New Jersey.
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The reason was unusual. Per Unilad, "According to several reports, this was because a Bluetooth speaker with a very unfortunate name was showing up on the cabin's device list." It was reportedly named "Bomb."
The Situation Was Frightening
Per the outlet, the crew reportedly asked people to turn off their Bluetooth. There was a one-minute countdown. A couple of devices were still showing as active, however, despite the crew's instructions. Passengers were supposedly warned that if those devices were not turned off, the plane would have to go back to the airport. It was allegedly an order from company headquarters in Chicago. Finally, unfortunately, the plane did actually have to head back to New Jersey. This was " a full-scale security emergency," per AirLive.net.
One passenger described the unsettling experience to the outlet. "They repeated the instruction multiple times, eventually giving a final 'one-minute warning, They said an individual has done something with Bluetooth that is threatening to the safety of the flight."
"A Reckless Prank" Was the Culprit
According to LiveATC.net audio archives, one passenger, allegedly a teenage boy on the flight, had a personal Bluetooth speaker with the network name "Bomb." Per AirLive.net, "...[T]he name popped up on the screens of passengers and crew members inside the cabin, instantly triggering a standard bomb-threat protocol."
There Was a Major Law Enforcement Response
Federal agents and airport police were waiting for the plane in Newark. For the passengers, it was a huge inconvenience. They had to leave the aircraft with just their cell phones and passports. They were "driven around the tarmac for roughly an hour" while the gate was secured. Then they were required to go through security yet again. Luggage, plus the plane itself, had to be checked as well.
United Airlines has reportedly not made an public statement about a possible lifetime ban or criminal charges for the owner of the troublesome Bluetooth speaker. According to CBS News, passengers took "a replacement flight" on Sunday, May 31, to get to their destination.
