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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

#22

Post by jeroenhd »

samgranieri wrote: post #9

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

You can't rename most Bluetooth speakers. "Bomb" was the name the selling brand gave the speaker.

By making everyone turn off their Bluetooth, the kid whose speaker had turned on probably couldn't even see the device broadcasting the name. People linked to one by a company made Hellotec but Hama has a similarly named device, and plenty of other speaker manufacturers try to make a pun out of "boombox" by naming their devices "bomb" (iJoy, ZEB-MUSIC, and presumably other such brands).

Maybe if someone asked the passengers if anyone knew about this "bomb" Bluetooth device the kid would've remembered, but in this case I can't blame them. On the other hand, asking passengers if they know something about a bomb is probably the quickest way to cause a panic.

The entire thing seems like a ridiculous overreaction. What kind of terrorist would call their bomb "bomb"? This is "Al Qaeda Free WiFi" all over again.

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

#24

Post by hluska »

alfiedotwtf wrote: post #2

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

An aircraft is not really public. The Captain and FO have a tremendous amount of power they can wield to make sure a flight passes without incident. A plane is not the place to make statements.

Granted though, the FBI didn’t actually get involved. But why let facts get in the way of rage?

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

#26

Post by firesteelrain »

jychang wrote: post #14
samgranieri wrote: post #9

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...

Oh man, talk about unfortunate set of circumstances. It looks like a cartoon-like bomb too.

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

#29

Post by Insimwytim »

CamelCaseName wrote: post #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

Those new obfuscated links prevent old.reddit to work.

Is there a way for you to post proper direct links?

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

#30

Post by jamwil »

root-parent wrote: post #4
mikeocool wrote: post #3

> 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]

I was talking about this with someone the other day… How many real terrorism threats have been preceded by the terrorist telegraphing their intentions with a phone call beforehand? My prior is that this number is essentially 0 and we should ignore bomb threats as a society.
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