Multiple European flights and cruise ship targeted by bomb threats

A series of bomb threats targeted at least seven passenger planes across Europe on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, prompting diversions, security inspections, and military escorts. No explosives were found in any of the incidents.

Aviation disruptions in Europe

Multiple airlines were affected by the threats, including Ryanair, Wizz Air, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), and LOT Polish Airlines.

In Poland, a LOT flight from London's Heathrow was diverted to Warsaw-Modlin airport after a bomb threat, which caused the airport to temporarily shut down. Adam Szablowski, an airport spokesman, said, "The passengers were evacuated and the plane underwent security checks. Nothing was found." Additionally, a SAS flight from Copenhagen landed at Warsaw's Chopin airport, where one runway was temporarily closed for a security inspection. SAS spokesperson Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji told the Polish news agency PAP, "The passengers disembarked, the plane landed normally; it was not an emergency landing."

In Italy, two Ryanair flights—one from Lisbon and one from Dublin—were targeted at Rome's Fiumicino airport. The Italian Air Force confirmed it scrambled two Eurofighter jets to "intercept and escort" the flight from Dublin. Sources at Fiumicino airport told the BBC that inspections of passengers, luggage, and the aircraft yielded negative results.

In Spain, a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Murcia landed safely and underwent checks after a bomb threat. Francisco Lucas, the Spanish government's delegate in the Murcia region, confirmed on X that police "ruled out the presence of explosives on the plane."

In Bulgaria, authorities investigated threats against two flights arriving in Sofia: one from Bergamo, Italy, and another from Dublin, Ireland. Bulgarian Transport Minister Georgi Peev stated that no explosives were found during the inspections.

Previous incidents and maritime threat

The Tuesday threats followed a Monday incident where a Wizz Air flight from London Luton was diverted to Budapest after receiving a bomb threat mid-air. Hungarian Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi stated on Facebook that Gripen fighter jets were scrambled to ensure the aircraft's safe landing.

In a separate incident on Tuesday, the Greek Coast Guard reported that approximately 1,500 passengers and crew were evacuated from the Panama-flagged cruise ship Crown Iris, which was docked near the island of Syros. The ship was traveling toward Haifa, Israel. Initial searches by the coast guard found no suspicious objects.

Expert analysis

Matthew Borie, co-founder and chief intelligence officer of Osprey Flight Solutions, suggested several hypotheses for the incidents, including the possibility of a single threat triggering copycat incidents or operations of "hybrid warfare" by state actors or their supporters. Borie noted that such threats are "not a new phenomenon."

Rhys Jones, head of analysis at Osprey Flight Solutions, told Reuters that the frequency of the threats suggests a specific objective: "This suggests the primary objective was to cause widespread, generalized disruption to aviation."

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Sources

• dw.com: Bomb threats hit flights to Warsaw, Bulgaria, Spain, Italy
• bbc.com: Flights from UK airports among seven across Europe targeted by suspected bomb threats
• mcall.com: Flights across Europe face disruption after false bomb threats
• france24.com: Bomb threats against European airlines force Warsaw airport closure, affect several flights - France 24
• rtvonline.com: Bomb Threats on Multiple Flights Disrupt Air Travel Across Europe

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