Bomb Threats Disrupt Flights Across Europe, Forcing Diversions and Searches

A string of bomb threats disrupted passenger flights across Europe on Tuesday, forcing diversions, emergency security checks and, in one case, a military escort, as airports in Poland, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria searched aircraft after they landed. No explosive devices were found on any of the planes, according to Reuters, and no group has claimed responsibility, according to The Independent.

At least seven flights were affected on Tuesday. Two Ryanair flights were searched at Rome’s Fiumicino airport, a LOT Polish Airlines flight from London was diverted to Warsaw-Modlin airport, an SAS flight from Copenhagen was checked after landing in Warsaw, a Ryanair flight from Manchester was searched in Murcia, and two flights bound for Sofia were searched after landing there.

FAKTA: Europe flights bomb threats

• At least seven flights were targeted by bomb threats across Europe on Tuesday, 3 November.
• No explosive devices were found on any of the aircraft searched.
• A LOT flight from London Heathrow carrying 181 people was diverted to Warsaw-Modlin airport.
• Two Ryanair flights were searched at Rome Fiumicino airport; one was escorted by the Italian Air Force.
• Warsaw-Modlin airport suspended operations and resumed them around midday, Reuters reported.

Europe flights bomb threats in Warsaw and Rome

In Warsaw, a LOT Polish Airlines flight from London made an unscheduled landing at Warsaw-Modlin airport after a bomb threat alert, a LOT spokesperson confirmed to Reuters. Air operations at the airport were suspended and resumed around midday, while the aircraft was checked and passengers and crew waited in the arrivals hall. The Independent reported that the flight was carrying 181 people and was diverted on Tuesday morning.

A second Warsaw-bound flight, an SAS service from Copenhagen, was also reported to have received a bomb threat. It landed at Warsaw-Chopin airport and was checked, a Chopin airport spokesperson said. SAS said the aircraft landed safely and its passengers disembarked, and Polish authorities said the threat was not confirmed. The airport continued operations.

In Rome, two Ryanair flights were searched at Fiumicino airport following potential bomb threats, airport operator ADR told Reuters. A flight from Lisbon landed at 09:40 CET and a flight from Dublin landed at 10:30 CET, the latter escorted by the Italian Air Force until landing. Both aircraft went through security protocols, including searches and bomb sweeps of the plane, luggage, passengers and crew. ADR said the alert was cleared, there was no bomb threat to the airport itself, and other flights were not affected.

Searches in Spain and Bulgaria

In Spain, Murcia international airport activated a security protocol on 3 November after a bomb alert was received on a Ryanair flight from Manchester that had landed there, Spain’s government delegate for the Murcia region, Francisco Lucas, said on social media, as reported by Reuters. All 121 people on board, 114 passengers and seven crew, disembarked and underwent security checks while security forces inspected the aircraft.

In Bulgaria, a bomb threat was made against a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Sofia on 3 November, Bulgaria’s transport ministry said in a statement to Reuters. The plane landed safely with 185 passengers on board, and no explosive devices were found during an inspection. A Wizz Air flight from Milan/Bergamo to Sofia was also targeted by a bomb threat on 3 November, the ministry said; the plane landed safely with 176 passengers on board, and no explosive devices were found.

An earlier threat on Monday

The Tuesday incidents followed a similar threat a day earlier. A Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia diverted to Budapest on 2 November after a bomb threat, Hungary’s defence minister said, and a Hungarian Gripen fighter was scrambled to escort the aircraft, Reuters reported.

For more European news, see Watan News Europe coverage.