Hoax Bomb Threats Disrupt More Flights Across Europe

A new wave of flight bomb threats hit airlines across Europe on Thursday, forcing several planes to divert or land under military escort. It was the third day of such alerts this week. As of Thursday evening, none of the threats had proved genuine, and nobody had claimed responsibility.

Euronews counted at least 14 flights targeted on Thursday alone. In total, authorities and airlines have reported more than 20 hoaxes this week, and at least seven targeted Ryanair.

Where the flight bomb threats struck

The most dramatic case involved an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome. French fighter jets escorted the Airbus A320 to the Évreux military airbase, about 100km west of Paris. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s office said staff moved 151 passengers and six crew to safety while a bomb squad checked the plane.

In Bulgaria, three Ryanair flights bound for Sofia received threats. Two, from Madrid and Copenhagen, landed in Sofia. The third, from London Stansted, landed in Plovdiv instead. Bulgaria’s transport minister said checks found nothing on any of the aircraft.

Meanwhile, Czech police said four planes heading to Prague had received threats. Ryanair, easyJet and Sky Express operated the flights. Police assessed the threats as having low credibility, and inspections found nothing.

Other airlines were also affected:

A Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw changed course and landed in Vienna.
Another Wizz Air flight, from Milan to Bucharest, landed safely, after which Romania set up a crisis unit at the airport.
An Italian fighter jet escorted a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome.
A LOT Polish Airlines flight from Warsaw to Brussels landed normally, and checks found nothing suspicious.
A second LOT flight, to Paris, halted while taxiing, and passengers moved to another plane.

A week of disruption

Thursday’s alerts follow similar incidents earlier in the week. On Monday, a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia made an emergency stop in Budapest. Then, on Tuesday, hoaxers targeted at least seven flights and a cruise ship. One airport near Warsaw briefly closed, and the Italian air force escorted a Ryanair plane into Rome.

Searches have found no devices in any of the cases. Even so, each threat forces crews and authorities to follow strict safety rules. As a result, passengers face delays, and airlines face extra costs.

Who is behind the threats?

So far, no government has blamed anyone. “Any threats against civilians are unacceptable,” EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas wrote on X. However, he added that it was “too early to draw conclusions” on whether the incidents are linked.

The alerts come at a tense time. European officials have recently accused Russia and Iran of carrying out “hybrid attacks” across the continent, Reuters reported via Dawn. Both countries deny running any such campaign.

This week, hackers also took control of supermarket freezers in several European countries. They later reached plasma storage rooms at France’s national blood service. There is no public evidence linking those cyber-attacks to the bomb hoaxes.

Still, some experts see a pattern. Eliran Almog, head of the aviation cybersecurity firm Cyviation, said repeated hoaxes could both disrupt flights and let attackers watch how airlines and governments respond. He added that such disruption to essential services “carries economic costs and can undermine public confidence”.

What it means for travellers

For now, flights across Europe are still operating. Travellers, including people flying to or through Europe from Pakistan, may face short-notice delays or diversions while the alerts continue. Therefore, passengers should check their airline’s updates before travelling.

Investigators in several countries are now examining the threats. In the Czech Republic, for example, the national anti-terrorism and cybercrime unit has taken over the case. Until investigators find the source, airlines are likely to keep treating every alert as real.