At least 25 European flights disrupted by wave of bomb threats

A new wave of bomb threats disrupted at least 25 passenger flights across Europe on Thursday, November 5, 2026, according to reports from Reuters and ABC News. The incidents, which included diversions and military escorts, follow similar threats that occurred on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

Flight Disruptions and Security Responses

Multiple airlines were affected by the threats, including Ryanair, Wizz Air, Aer Lingus, Finnair, LOT Polish Airlines, and Aegean Airlines. Specific incidents reported include:

• Aer Lingus: Flight EI402 from Dublin to Rome was diverted to the Évreux military airbase in France. All 151 passengers and six crew members were reported safe.
• Ryanair: Three flights bound for Sofia, Bulgaria, were affected. Two flights from Copenhagen and Madrid landed safely at Sofia Airport, while a flight from London Stansted was diverted to Plovdiv Airport.
• Finnair: One flight from Helsinki to Rome was escorted by Italian military aircraft, and another flight from Helsinki to Vienna, operated by Jettime, landed normally after receiving a threat.
• Wizz Air: A flight from Milan to Warsaw was diverted to Vienna, while another flight from Milan to Bucharest landed safely in Romania.
• Other incidents: In Spain, the Guardia Civil reported three emailed bomb threats involving Air Europa and Iberia flights. In Prague, two Easyjet flights, one flight from Ireland, and one from Greece landed after receiving threats; Czech police stated the credibility of these threats was low.

No explosives have been found in connection with any of the reported threats.

Geopolitical Context and Allegations

While no country has officially attributed the threats to a specific actor, the incidents occur amid heightened tensions. Many European officials have accused Russia of masterminding "hybrid attacks" and sabotage. Denmark, Poland, and Romania have previously accused Moscow directly, and Germany has blamed Russia for an attack on Leipzig airport in August. Both Russia and Iran have denied involvement in such activities.

Eric Schouten, head of the aviation security group Dyami, noted that many of the affected countries support Ukraine in its war against Russia's invasion. Eliran Almog, CEO of aviation cybersecurity firm Cyviation, suggested the threats could be used to observe how authorities respond to disruptions.

Why it matters

Bomb threats and flight diversions can result in significant economic costs, potentially running into hundreds of millions of pounds, and can impact insurance premiums. The recurring nature of these threats has prompted calls for investigation into whether they are part of a broader campaign of hybrid warfare.

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Sources

• mirror.co.uk: 'Tensions mount over flight bomb threats amid fears they could be state-sponsored' - The Mirror
• aerospaceglobalnews.com: Multiple flights diverted across Europe after fresh bomb threats
• abc.net.au: Bomb threat 'hoaxes' divert planes flying over Europe in third such event this week - ABC News
• internazionale.it: New wave of bomb threats hits at least 25 passenger flights across Europe - Internazionale
• cphpost.dk: New bomb threats disrupt flights across Europe. No explosives had been reported found - The Copenhagen Post

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