Bomb Threats Disrupt European Flights Amid Unclear Origins
Over 10 flights affected across Europe, including services to Milan, Rome, Brussels, and Prague, as authorities investigate malicious hoaxes.
Carla Rooney
A new wave of bomb threats targeted airlines across Europe on Thursday.
No threats proved genuine. The incidents forced Aer Lingus flight EI402, en route from Dublin to Rome, to divert to Normandy as a security precaution. Ryanair, the hardest-hit airline, experienced eight reported cases.
UK authorities labeled the incidents as malicious hoax threats. The government believes threats made to UK airports and flights were also malicious hoaxes.
Many threats received this week arrived via email. These messages contained enough information to require aircraft inspection. All incidents so far have been confirmed as false alarms; nothing suspicious was found.
Fighter jet escorts were deployed in Bulgaria, France, Hungary, and Italy. Airlines, airport operators, and law enforcement generally follow guidelines from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the International Civil Aviation Organization during such events.
Passengers affected by disruptions may receive refunds or rerouting. However, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) claims bomb hoaxes would likely be classed as an “extraordinary circumstance,” making compensation unlikely.
Authorities have not attributed blame for the bomb threats. They remain unclear about the origins of the threats. No confirmed links have been established between the incidents.
The threats emerged amid rising tensions with Russia and warnings that it may be ramping up so-called hybrid attacks in Europe. Unspecified intelligence sources claim no intelligence yet points to any particular group or state actor, such as Russia or Iran, despite growing concerns over hybrid incidents targeting Europe.