At least 14 commercial flights were targeted Thursday in a third day of aviation security alerts, prompting emergency landings, military escorts and bomb searches in France, Italy, Bulgaria and other European countries.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
PARIS — A new wave of bomb threats disrupted air travel across Europe on Thursday, Nov. 5, forcing passenger aircraft to make emergency diversions and prompting military fighter jet escorts as authorities investigated more than a dozen security alerts involving commercial flights.
The incidents affected flights operated by Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Finnair, Wizz Air, Aegean Airlines and other carriers. Aircraft were diverted or searched in France, Italy, Bulgaria, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic, with authorities reporting no explosives discovered during inspections.
According to Agence France-Presse, at least 14 flights were targeted Thursday, bringing the number of reported bomb threats across Europe to more than 20 during the week.
A separate Reuters report documented at least 25 affected passenger flights in the broader series of incidents.
One of Thursday’s most significant disruptions involved an Aer Lingus flight traveling from Dublin, Ireland, to Rome, Italy.
The Airbus A320, carrying 151 passengers and six crew members, was diverted to Évreux military air base in Normandy after authorities received a bomb threat.
French fighter aircraft escorted the passenger plane to the military installation west of Paris, where it landed safely.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s office confirmed that military bomb disposal specialists were dispatched to inspect the aircraft.
All 157 passengers and crew members were reported safe.
Aer Lingus confirmed the diversion and said it was coordinating with French authorities while arranging transportation for affected travelers.
“The flight landed safely and Aer Lingus will work to reaccommodate customers to their final destination as soon as possible,” the airline said.
Flight-tracking information showed the aircraft changing course near Paris and flying several holding patterns before proceeding to the military base.
The incident was among several that required European air forces to respond to commercial aviation security threats.
In Italy, a Finnair flight traveling from Helsinki to Rome was escorted by an Italian military aircraft before landing at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport.
Bomb disposal specialists examined the aircraft after its arrival but found nothing suspicious.
Finnair spokeswoman Stiina Tuunanen confirmed that “nothing unusual was found” during the inspection.
Finnair also reported a separate threat targeting flight AY1471 from Helsinki to Vienna.
Tuunanen said the airline maintains established procedures for responding to aviation security warnings.
Finnair has a “very clear process that we follow in situations like this, and we always work closely with the local authorities,” she said.
Bulgaria experienced another series of incidents involving three Ryanair aircraft scheduled to arrive in Sofia.
The flights originated in Madrid, Copenhagen and London Stansted Airport.
According to The Associated Press, the aircraft from Madrid and Copenhagen landed safely at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport.
The third flight, originating from London Stansted, was diverted to Plovdiv Airport in southern Bulgaria.
Bulgarian military fighter jets escorted all three aircraft as part of the emergency response.
The country’s Defense Ministry said the operations were intended to “detect, identify and escort the aircraft.”
Security personnel subsequently inspected the planes and found no explosives, according to the Bulgarian Interior Ministry.
Other flights experienced similar disruptions.
A Wizz Air flight traveling from Milan to Warsaw was diverted to Vienna after a threat was received.
The airline said the decision was made “in accordance with established safety protocols and procedures.”
A separate Wizz Air flight from Milan to Bucharest landed safely in Romania, where authorities established an emergency response unit at Henri Coandă International Airport.
Polish authorities also inspected a LOT Polish Airlines flight scheduled to depart Warsaw for Paris after receiving a security warning.
Officials temporarily closed one runway at Warsaw Chopin Airport during the investigation. No explosives were discovered.
In the Czech Republic, authorities investigated threats involving four Prague-bound aircraft operated by Ryanair, easyJet and Sky Express.
Police said the threats had been received through anonymous email messages but emphasized that each report required appropriate security procedures.
“We perceive the credibility of the threats as low,” Czech police said. “Nevertheless, we are not underestimating the situation, and all necessary security measures have been activated.”
The latest incidents followed similar bomb threats Tuesday that disrupted flights across several European countries.
On that day, Ryanair aircraft arriving in Rome from Lisbon and Dublin were searched after authorities received warnings about possible explosives.
Italian fighter jets escorted the Dublin flight into Rome, where bomb disposal specialists examined the aircraft and baggage.
No explosives were found.
Authorities in Poland, Spain and Bulgaria also investigated threats against commercial aircraft Tuesday, with searches producing no evidence of explosive devices.
The disruptions began Monday when a Wizz Air flight from London Luton Airport to Sofia made an emergency landing in Budapest after receiving a bomb threat while airborne.
The aircraft was escorted by a Hungarian military fighter jet and landed safely.
According to Al Jazeera’s reporting on the earlier incidents, all threats investigated Tuesday were determined to be false.
British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the repeated warnings as “malicious hoaxes,” emphasizing that aviation and security authorities were coordinating their responses.
The succession of alerts has raised questions about whether the threats represent a coordinated campaign intended to disrupt European aviation.
However, investigators have not established that the incidents are connected or identified the individuals responsible.
According to CBS News, aviation security specialists said the scale and timing of the alerts warranted investigation into whether they were deliberately organized.
Authorities have also cautioned against attributing responsibility to foreign governments or particular organizations without evidence.
The threats come amid heightened European security concerns involving suspected sabotage, cyberattacks and unauthorized drone activity near sensitive infrastructure.
However, officials have not established a connection between those incidents and the aviation threats.
European Union Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said aviation authorities were sharing information and coordinating with national security agencies to assess the situation.
An EU aviation security information-sharing mechanism has been activated to support investigations and ensure airlines and airports receive timely information.
Commercial airlines operate under established procedures for evaluating bomb threats, including coordination with air traffic controllers, police and military authorities.
Depending on the circumstances, crews may be instructed to divert to another airport, request an emergency landing or undergo security inspections after arrival.
Military aircraft can be deployed to identify and escort threatened passenger planes when authorities determine that additional protective measures are necessary.
Once an aircraft lands, passengers may be evacuated while specialist teams inspect the cabin, baggage compartments and cargo areas.
Although such procedures can cause substantial disruptions, aviation authorities emphasize that security warnings must be evaluated individually, even when earlier threats have proved false.
Thursday’s incidents resulted in delayed flights, interrupted travel schedules and additional security operations across multiple countries.
The Washington Post reported that investigators were continuing to examine the origins of the messages while airports and airlines worked to restore normal operations.
No injuries or confirmed explosive devices had been reported in connection with Thursday’s alerts.
As of Nov. 5, European aviation authorities were continuing their investigations, with the identities and motives of those responsible for the repeated threats remaining unknown.
The incidents have demonstrated the extensive disruption that bomb threats can cause even when no explosives are present, requiring airlines, airports, law enforcement agencies and military personnel across several countries to respond simultaneously.
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