Bomb Threats Disrupt European Flights
More than a dozen flights across the continent faced diversions and security operations on Thursday morning.
Sarah Connor
Bomb threats disrupted more than a dozen flights across Europe on Thursday morning.
Affected flights have since landed safely. Inspections found no explosives or suspicious items on board any aircraft.
A LOT Polish Airlines flight (LO286) from Heathrow landed at Warsaw Modlin Airport shortly after an alarm. The airport closed for security operations following the landing. Other diverted aircraft landed in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Brussels.
An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome landed safely near Paris. French and Italian fighter jets scrambled in response to the threats.
Malicious hoax threats.
Affected destinations included Bulgaria, Italy, Prague, Brussels, and Vienna. One runway at Chopin airport temporarily closed while authorities carried out standard security procedures.
Police also received threats for four as-yet unidentified flights; those planes currently prepare for landing. Authorities warn that hybrid threats abound.
These disruptions follow similar threats earlier in the week. The British Government blamed "malicious hoaxes" for previous scares, later labelling the bomb threats as "malicious hoax threats."