Bomb threats disrupt several European flights again

Several passenger flights across Europe have faced reported bomb threats, prompting emergency landings, diversions, military escorts, and security inspections at airports in several countries.

The incidents on Thursday affected flights operated by Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Finnair, Jettime, and Aer Lingus, among others.

This comes after four European flights were targeted by bomb threats, forcing the temporary closure of one Warsaw airport on Tuesday.

France

In France, an Aer Lingus Airbus A320 travelling from Dublin to Rome was diverted to an air base in Evreux, Normandy, following a bomb threat.

The aircraft, carrying 151 passengers and six crew members, landed safely. French military bomb disposal teams were deployed to inspect the plane, while passengers and crew were moved to a safe location, according to the office of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

Italy

In Italy, a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome was escorted to Rome's Fiumicino Airport by Italian Air Force fighter jets following a bomb threat.

The aircraft landed safely and underwent security inspections.

The airport temporarily suspended flight operations for around 30 minutes, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

Bomb scares also affected two other flights bound for Milan Malpensa, which were not diverted and landed regularly at the airport.

These were an Aegean Airlines flight which departed from Thessaloniki and a Ryanair flight which took off from Porto.

Another Finnair flight from Helsinki to Vienna, operated by Jettime, also received a bomb threat but landed as scheduled, according to the airline.

An Airbus A321 operated by the Hungarian airline Wizz Air, which was en route from Milan-Malpensa to Warsaw, also made an unscheduled landing in Vienna.

No suspicious objects were found after the plane landed at Vienna International Airport.

Spain

In Spain, Spanish authorities said three flights were affected at Madrid's airport, adding that security forces had ruled out any risk.

Airlines across Europe received a series of bomb threats on Thursday morning for the second time this week, forcing many to make unplanned or escorted landings, although none of the threats immediately proved to be genuine.

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, three Ryanair flights bound for Sofia were targeted by bomb threats, prompting the Bulgarian Air Force to scramble MiG-29 fighter jets.

In Romania, a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Bucharest landed at Henri Coanda International Airport following a bomb threat. Passengers were evacuated, and a crisis management team was activated, while specialists inspected the aircraft, according to broadcaster Digi24.

In Belgium, a LOT Polish Airlines passenger plane flying from Warsaw to Brussels landed safely after authorities received a suspicious report concerning the flight.

Meanwhile, Czech police reported bomb threats involving four flights heading to Prague. Authorities assessed the threats as low-credibility but activated security procedures and conducted inspections, according to Czech media reports.

Polish media reported that a LOT flight from Warsaw to Paris underwent security procedures at Chopin Airport after an onboard threat.

TRT World / AA — TRT World / AA

Photo: AP