Multiple European Flights Diverted Following Bomb Threats

Multiple commercial flights across Europe were diverted or made emergency landings on Thursday following reports of bomb threats, according to various authorities.

Diversions and Military Escorts

One incident involved an Aer Lingus flight, EI402, traveling from Dublin to Rome. The aircraft was diverted to the Evreux military air base in Normandy, France. The office of French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated the flight landed safely at the base, where 151 passengers and six crew members were on board. French Air Force fighter jets were dispatched to escort the plane to the airfield.

In Italy, Finnair flight AY1761, traveling from Helsinki to Rome, was escorted by Italian Air Force jets. According to the Italian news agency Ansa, the plane landed safely at Rome Fiumicino Airport. Italian media reported that bomb disposal experts were inspecting the aircraft following the landing.

Other reported diversions include:

• Wizz Air flight W46387: Traveling from Milan Malpensa to Warsaw, this flight was diverted to Vienna, Austria. A Wizz Air spokesperson confirmed the diversion was initiated "in accordance with established security protocols and procedures, with the safety of passengers and crew as the highest priority."
• Ryanair flights: Three flights were reported in Bulgarian airspace. According to Bulgarian public broadcaster BNT, flights FR6410 from Madrid and FR3606 from Copenhagen landed at Vasil Levski Airport in Sofia. A third flight, FR1730 from London Stansted, was diverted to Plovdiv Airport, according to Plovdiv Airport CEO Krassimir Peshev.
• LOT Polish Airlines flight LO235: Traveling from Warsaw to Brussels, this flight was reportedly affected by a security threat. A spokesperson for the airline stated, "No suspicious items were identified during the check," and confirmed that authorities conducted an additional security inspection upon landing in Brussels.
• Prague-bound flights: Czech police reported they were preparing for four landings after receiving threats of "an improvised explosive device" on planes heading to Prague. Police stated, "We assess the credibility of threats as low," but noted that all necessary security measures were activated.

Context of Recent Disruptions

These incidents follow a series of disruptions earlier in the week. On Tuesday, seven flights were subjected to what the UK government described as "malicious hoax threats." These included flights operated by LOT Polish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Wizz Air, and Ryanair.

In those previous instances, no explosives were found. One flight from Manchester landed in Murcia, Spain, and another from London Heathrow to Warsaw was also affected. Two Ryanair flights, departing from Dublin and Lisbon, were searched in Rome following anonymous tips, but no explosives were found, according to sources at Fiumicino airport.

Authorities have noted that these threats occur amid increased geopolitical tensions and signs of "disruption," such as drone incursions in Europe and attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems. Some reports suggest these may be hallmarks of "hybrid attacks" designed to cause maximum disruption.

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Sources

• ctvnews.ca: Europe flights diverted due to bomb threats
• mirror.co.uk: Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Wizz Air flights face bomb threats across Europe – live - The Mirror
• bbc.com: Multiple European flights hit by bomb threats for second time this week
• dw.com: Several European flights receive bomb threats, some divert

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