Bomb threats disrupt 27 European flights
An Aer Lingus plane diverted to Normandy and a Ryanair flight delayed in Cork as authorities investigate a second day of coordinated hoax calls.
By Amit Ricci ·
At least 27 flights across Europe faced delays or diversions on Thursday due to a series of anonymous bomb threats, marking the second consecutive day of aviation disruption. The incidents affected carriers including Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Wizz Air, Finnair, EasyJet, Aegean Airlines, Iberia, Sky Express, Air Serbia, and LOT. All aircraft landed safely, and post-landing inspections found no suspicious items.
The threats targeted routes connecting Italy, Ireland, the UK, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Finland, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, France, Greece, Serbia, and Czechia. One Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to the Évreux-Fauville airbase in Normandy after receiving a threat. The plane carried 151 passengers and six crew members.
Katie McAteer, a passenger on the diverted Aer Lingus flight, told RTÉ Radio’s News at One that the pilot informed the cabin of a “problem with plane” about an hour into the journey. She described seeing a fighter jet flying alongside their aircraft and called the sight “scary.” Although the pilot later stated the threat did not appear credible, McAteer described the experience as “terrifying.” A statement from the French prime minister’s office confirmed that all individuals were brought to safety and that bomb disposal teams intervened.
In Ireland, a Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Cork was delayed by 90 minutes after Cork Airport received an anonymous phone threat at 6 a.m. Gardaí stood by as the Boeing 738 landed before 8 a.m. The aircraft, which carried up to 180 passengers, was evacuated, and all luggage was removed and examined. Authorities declared the threat a hoax after the inspection.
Minister for Defence Helen McEntee described the rapid succession of threats as “extremely concerning.” She emphasized the need to identify the responsible parties quickly to alleviate the fear and disruption. McEntee noted that 55 heads of state are scheduled to convene in Ireland next week and confirmed that measures would be taken to ensure their safety.
EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas stated that threats against civilians are unacceptable but cautioned that it was too early to establish a definitive link between the various incidents. He said the commission is closely monitoring the situation. No country has formally attributed blame for the threats, though European officials have recently cited Russia and Iran in connection with hybrid attacks. Both Moscow and Tehran deny involvement. This week, unidentified hackers also shut down refrigerators in supermarkets across several European countries, leading some experts to suggest the bomb threats may follow a similar pattern of low-cost, deniable disruption.
The disruption follows a day earlier when seven planes across Europe were searched or diverted. The current incidents have forced airlines to coordinate emergency landings and diversions while authorities continue their investigations into the source of the calls.
