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United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

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Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#12

> "Free Palestine, F Zionists" Does the FBI usually get involved when someone says these words in public in the US?

Not directly, no, but they’ll build a file for what they consider extremist views. Just look back to the Civil Rights Movement era for the list of things people said that would get them an FBI file - we have a long and storied history of surveilling anyone and everyone who says things that go against what political power desires. That being said, I do think any cabin crew pitching a fit over such a hotspot name is ab…

[deleted]

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#13
The Reddit thread on this was equal parts amazing and hilarious.

Real time insights from not one, but 9, redditors on the flight.

Main post: https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/s/57lugEMhxl

All the redditors on board: https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/s/Fh2KoqG4SY

A passenger with a hilariously illtimed username: https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/s/W86tRI6ZVf

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#14

A 16 year boy apparently named his Bluetooth speaker “bomb” and couldn’t turn it off, as it was probably in checked luggage. Woof.

It was a bomb speaker: https://hellottec.com/product/bomb-portable-bluetooth-speake...

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#16

> "Free Palestine, F Zionists" Does the FBI usually get involved when someone says these words in public in the US?

Not directly, no, but they’ll build a file for what they consider extremist views. Just look back to the Civil Rights Movement era for the list of things people said that would get them an FBI file - we have a long and storied history of surveilling anyone and everyone who says things that go against what political power desires. That being said, I do think any cabin crew pitching a fit over such a hotspot name is ab…

[deleted]

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#18
post #14

A 16 year boy apparently named his Bluetooth speaker “bomb” and couldn’t turn it off, as it was probably in checked luggage. Woof.

It was a bomb speaker: https://hellottec.com/product/bomb-portable-bluetooth-speake...

Website already HN'd into oblivion it seems

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#19

> a flight attendant told passengers over the PA system that they "must turn off Bluetooth immediately," or else the aircraft would have to turn around. So if the person just takes back their bomb threat everything is ok? Or did they think the terrorist labeled their Bluetooth bomb “bomb” and this would disable it?

[flagged]

This is wildly inaccurate to the point of being dangerous advice. The goal during a bomb threat call is generally not to challenge, mock, or provoke the caller into a reaction. It is to keep the caller talking for as long as possible and gather information that could help assess the threat and assist law enforcement or security. There is no reliable rule that says a "real terrorist" will hang up if laughed at or that a hoax caller will stay on the line. People making threats behave in many different ways and simplistic tests like this are not a dependable way to determine whether a threat is real.

Re: United Airlines 767 returns to Newark after Bluetooth name sparks alert

#20

> a flight attendant told passengers over the PA system that they "must turn off Bluetooth immediately," or else the aircraft would have to turn around. So if the person just takes back their bomb threat everything is ok? Or did they think the terrorist labeled their Bluetooth bomb “bomb” and this would disable it?

I guess they assumed there were two scenarios:

1. It was unintentional; someone had a bluetooth device called BOMB for some reason that made sense before boarding the plane. They would turn it off.

2. It was intentional; someone wanted to send a warning and chose this channel - they would leave the device on.

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