Bomb threats force multiple flight diversions across Europe
A series of security warnings disrupted several airliners on Thursday, including an Aer Lingus flight escorted by military aircraft.
A series of bomb threats forced several aircraft to make unplanned landings across Europe on Thursday, according to reports from Moneycontrol, Mint and Al Jazeera. The disruptions follow a wave of similar warnings that affected multiple flights earlier in the week.
An Aer Lingus flight, EI402, travelling from Dublin to Rome, was diverted to the Evreux airfield in the Normandy region of France. The aircraft, carrying 151 passengers and six crew members, was escorted by military planes after an in-flight emergency was declared. The office of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that a bomb squad was deployed at the airfield.
A Wizz Air Holdings Plc flight from Milan to Warsaw was also rerouted to Vienna on Thursday. The airline stated the diversion followed established safety protocols after a threat was received during the flight.
In Bulgaria, the interior minister reported that aircraft flying from Copenhagen and Madrid requested emergency landings in Sofia. The transport minister said inspections of these three planes found no problems. Meanwhile, Spanish authorities noted that three flights at Madrid airport were impacted by hoax threats.
Other incidents included a LOT Polish Airlines flight from Warsaw to Paris being stopped for a security check, and a LOT flight from Warsaw to Brussels landing safely after an onboard inspection found no suspicious items. Czech police also conducted pyrotechnic inspections on four planes heading to Prague after they received threats.
No pattern has emerged regarding the specific carriers or routes targeted. At least seven flights were disrupted between Monday and Tuesday, involving airlines such as Ryanair Holdings Plc and Scandinavian Airlines. The UK government described the incidents as malicious hoax threats.