At least 14 European flights diverted following bomb threats

At least 14 flights were impacted by bomb threats across Europe on Thursday, according to reports from CNN and the Associated Press. The threats resulted in emergency landings, diversions, and military escorts, though authorities have stated that no explosive devices have been found.

Flight Diversions and Security Responses

Several aircraft were rerouted or forced to make emergency landings to undergo inspections:

• France: An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to the Evreux air base in Normandy. The French prime minister’s office stated that 151 passengers and six crew members were "being moved to safety" and that a French warplane escorted the aircraft.
• Italy: Two planes were diverted to Malpensa Airport in Milan following threats. One was an Aegean Airlines flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, and the other was a Ryanair flight from Porto, Portugal.
• Bulgaria: Three Ryanair flights were impacted. Two flights from Madrid and Copenhagen landed safely in Sofia, while a third flight from London's Stansted Airport was diverted to Plovdiv.
• Romania: A Wizz Air flight from Milan was evacuated in Bucharest after landing safely following a threat, according to Reuters.
• Czech Republic: Four flights headed to Prague were targeted. The Czech National Center against Terrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime is investigating the matter.
• Finland/Italy: A Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome was escorted by Italian air force fighter jets after an email threat was received, according to an airport official.

Previous Incidents and Investigations

These incidents follow a series of similar disruptions on Tuesday, when at least seven flights and one cruise ship received bomb threats. On Tuesday, threats targeted flights to Warsaw, Sofia, Rome, and Murcia, and a cruise ship in Greece was searched by coast guard specialists.

British transport minister Heidi Alexander described the threats as a "malicious hoax," stating that the disrupted flights triggered "established processes for dealing with hoax and malicious threats."

Why it matters

Experts suggest these aviation threats may be part of a broader pattern of disruption. Eliran Almog, CEO of aviation cybersecurity firm Cyviation, noted that these threats are occurring during a period of cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems across Europe.

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Sources

• cnn.com: Multiple flights in Europe diverted due to bomb threats — live | CNN
• france24.com: Multiple flights in Europe diverted because of bomb threats after earlier hoaxes - France 24
• toronto.citynews.ca: Multiple flights in Europe diverted because of bomb threats after earlier hoaxes

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.