Bomb threats force diversions and searches on multiple European flights
Several airlines across Europe diverted or inspected flights after receiving bomb threats that proved to be hoaxes, with no explosives found and no injuries reported.
A series of bomb threats received by airlines in Europe over the past few days led to diversions, emergency landings and security sweeps, although no explosive devices were discovered. The incidents involved carriers including LOT, Scandinavian Airlines, Wizz Air and Ryanair.
In Sofia, Bulgaria, a plane from Israel landed after an email threat, prompting counter-terrorism units to inspect the aircraft, Interior Ministry Secretary General Lyubomir Nikolov said. The same day, two other flights – a Wizz Air service from Bergamo with 176 passengers and a Ryanair service from Dublin with 185 passengers – arrived safely after threats were reported, with no bombs found.
A Ryanair flight from Lisbon touched down at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport after an email claimed a bomb was on board. Police bomb-disposal experts examined the aircraft, passengers and baggage and reported no explosives. A second Ryanair flight from Dublin to Rome was escorted by the Italian Air Force to the same airport, where similar checks were performed and also yielded no threat.
In Poland, a LOT flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw was diverted to Modlin Airport following a threat. After a thorough search found nothing, passengers were processed through border control and transferred to Chopin Airport by coach. A Scandinavian Airlines flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw also received a warning about a potentially dangerous item; the aircraft landed normally, passengers disembarked and the runway was briefly closed while standard procedures were carried out. SAS spokesperson Alexandra Lindgren Kaokju said the airline is focusing on passenger care and the matter has been referred to police.
In Spain, a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Murcia was temporarily halted after a bomb threat, but authorities later confirmed it was a hoax and normal operations resumed.
Hungary saw a Wizz Air flight from Luton forced to make an emergency landing in Budapest after a threat was received in flight. The Hungarian defence minister reported that a Gripen fighter jet escorted the aircraft safely to the airport, where an inspection found no danger.