At least 14 European aircraft receive bomb threats in a day

At least 14 passenger aircraft across Europe received bomb threats on Thursday, prompting diversions, fighter-jet escorts and searches. Authorities reported finding no explosives in several cases, but it remains unclear who made the threats or whether they were connected.

An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to a French air force base at Évreux, while an aircraft flying from Helsinki to Rome was escorted by Italy’s air force to its destination airport. Wizz Air said a flight from Milan to Warsaw diverted to Vienna; after checks, it continued to the Polish capital.

Two other flights, operated by Aegean Airlines and Ryanair, landed in Milan after threats. They had arrived from Thessaloniki and Porto respectively.

Bulgarian ministers said three aircraft landed at airports in the country after threats. Local media reported that flights from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia, and one from London in Plovdiv. Bulgaria’s transport ministry said searches found “no problems”.

Four aircraft landed in Prague after threats. Police said no explosives were found and described the threats as not very credible, while adding that all necessary security measures were being taken.

In Romania, a Wizz Air aircraft from Milan landed in Bucharest. The Romanian intelligence service said it could not confirm the threat after examining the plane.

A LOT aircraft flying from Warsaw landed safely at its destination, Brussels, after a suspicious report. The airport said no additional security measures were needed; LOT said nothing suspicious had been found.

The incidents follow a series of threats against European flights earlier in the week. About ten flights were affected on Monday and Tuesday, and Warsaw-Modlin airport temporarily closed after a threatened aircraft landed there. In a separate incident, an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to Évreux; French officials said everyone on board was safe. The source of this week’s threats, and whether they came from one person or several, has not been established.