The wave of bomb threats across Europe continues to spread as at least 12 threats disrupted air travel across the continent Thursday, according to AFP, and prompting unscheduled landings in France, Bulgaria and Belgium, as well as a fighter jet escort in Italy and security procedures aboard a flight that landed in Belgium.
An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a French air base, three aircraft were forced to land in Bulgaria, and Italian fighter jets were scrambled to escort a Finnair flight. Additional threats targeted four flights bound for Prague and a Wizz Air aircraft that landed in Bucharest. In Belgium, a security alert was issued concerning a LOT Polish Airlines flight, but the airline said the threat had not been verified. The incidents came just two days after seven bomb threats involving flights across Europe and the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris, all of which proved to be false alarms.
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Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a French air base
(Photo: BearFotos /Shutterstock)
The incidents occurred just two days after seven bomb threats involving flights across Europe, as well as a separate threat against the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris, all of which proved to be false alarms.
According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, Aer Lingus flight EI402 departed Dublin for Rome's Fiumicino Airport. While the Airbus A320 was flying over France, its pilots transmitted the emergency squawk code 7700. The aircraft changed course near Paris, circled several times over France and was directed to land at Évreux-Fauville Air Base, approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the French capital.
Aer Lingus confirmed that the aircraft landed safely after being diverted as a security precaution. The office of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 151 passengers and six crew members were aboard and had been moved to safety. A bomb disposal unit was deployed to the air base to inspect the aircraft, while the prime minister's office said it was monitoring developments. The findings of the security inspection have not yet been released.
The emergency code 7700 is used to signal a general in-flight emergency and does not, by itself, indicate the nature of the threat.
Three emergency landings in Bulgaria, incidents in Belgium and Italy
In Bulgaria, three passenger aircraft were forced to land following bomb threats. According to Reuters, two planes that departed from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Madrid, Spain, landed at Sofia Airport. The information was reported by Bulgarian television network bTV, citing the country's interior minister. A third aircraft arriving from London landed at Plovdiv Airport.
Details about the airlines operating the flights and the results of the security inspections have not yet been released.
The unusual flight path of an Aer Lingus plane over France, after the pilots transmitted emergency code 7700 following a bomb threat
(Photo: Flightradar24 screenshot)
Romania also received a bomb threat involving a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Bucharest. According to Romanian news website G4Media, citing a statement from the Romanian Intelligence Service, the aircraft landed safely at Bucharest Airport. Local media reported that 182 passengers and seven crew members were aboard, and authorities activated security procedures to investigate the threat.
In the Czech Republic, bomb threats were received against four passenger aircraft bound for Prague. Police prepared for their arrival and activated security protocols, although they had initially assessed the threats as having low credibility. After all four aircraft landed, security teams searched the planes, but no explosives were found, a police spokesperson told the Czech news agency CTK.
In Belgium, a passenger aircraft was forced to land at Brussels' Zaventem Airport following a security alert. Belgian media reported that the aircraft belonged to Polish airline LOT. Further details about the flight and the circumstances of the threat have not been published.
A Finnair flight traveling from Helsinki to Rome also received a bomb threat. Italian Air Force fighter jets were scrambled to escort the aircraft until it landed safely at Fiumicino Airport. A Finnair spokesperson confirmed that a bomb threat had been received but emphasized that the aircraft landed as scheduled. Rome's airport operator said the alert had not disrupted operations at Fiumicino Airportץ
Meanwhile, Italian news agency ANSA reported two additional bomb threats involving flights bound for Milan Malpensa Airport. Both aircraft landed safely. Details about the airlines operating the flights, their departure airports and the results of security inspections have not yet been released.
Just two days ago: 7 flights threatened, Israeli cruise ship evacuated
Thursday's incidents follow an unusual series of alerts Tuesday involving seven flights across Europe: two bound for Warsaw, two for Sofia, two for Rome and one for Murcia, Spain. All the aircraft landed safely, and subsequent inspections found no explosives.
In Italy, bomb threats were reported that day on two Ryanair flights arriving in Rome from Lisbon and Dublin. Italian Air Force fighter jets were scrambled to escort the Dublin flight until it landed. That was the same route involved in Thursday's Aer Lingus incident.
In both cases Tuesday, authorities searched the aircraft, passengers and luggage, but found nothing suspicious.
In Poland, Modlin Airport was temporarily closed after a LOT flight from London to Warsaw was diverted there. The aircraft was carrying 181 people, including a group of Jewish students from a London high school, some of them Israelis living in Britain. Passengers were evacuated, and security forces searched the plane. The airport later resumed normal operations.
The bomb threats were not limited to aircraft. On Tuesday, authorities also received a report alleging that an explosive device had been attached to the underside of the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris, operated by Mano Maritime, while it was docked on the Greek island of Syros.
The ship was carrying 940 passengers and 597 crew members. Passengers were evacuated, and Greek security forces conducted searches with the assistance of divers and explosives detection dogs. Nothing suspicious was found, and passengers were allowed to return aboard.
It remains unclear who is behind the series of threats, and no connection between the incidents has been established.
The alerts come amid growing concern in Europe about disruption and sabotage operations known as "hybrid attacks." European officials have previously accused Russia and Iran of involvement in such activities, allegations both countries deny. At this stage, there is no evidence linking either country to the bomb threats against the flights.
First published: 13:04, 11.05.26