Bomb Threats Disrupt Air Travel Across Europe, More Than 25 Flights Targeted

LONDON (Terror Monitor) — Air travel across Europe has been disrupted by a fresh wave of bomb threats targeting passenger aircraft operated by several major airlines, forcing emergency landings, flight diversions, security inspections and military fighter jet escorts.

More than a dozen flights were targeted on Thursday alone, November 5, while at least 25 flights have reportedly been affected by similar threats since the beginning of the week, according to European authorities and international news agencies.

Several aircraft were escorted by fighter jets to their destinations, while others were diverted to alternative civilian airports or military air bases as a precaution.

Despite the widespread disruption, security inspections conducted so far have found no explosives or suspicious materials aboard the affected aircraft. British officials have described the threats as malicious hoaxes.

The latest incidents represent the second major wave of bomb threats against European airlines this week, raising concerns about aviation security and the possibility of coordinated attempts to disrupt air travel across the continent.

Flights diverted and escorted by fighter jets

Among the affected aircraft was an Aer Lingus Airbus A320 travelling from Dublin to Rome, which was diverted to the Évreux military air base in northern France following a bomb threat.

French fighter jets were scrambled to intercept and escort the aircraft to the military facility, located approximately 100 kilometres west of Paris.

The French Prime Minister's Office said the decision to deploy fighter jets followed concerns about the pilot's initial response to instructions from authorities.

The Évreux prosecutor told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the pilot had allegedly refused to land at the military base, preferring a civilian airport. However, Aer Lingus subsequently said that its pilots had fully cooperated with French authorities.

All 151 passengers and six crew members were moved to safety, while bomb disposal specialists and security personnel examined the aircraft.

A Finnair flight travelling from Helsinki to Rome was also escorted by Italian Air Force fighter jets after receiving a bomb threat. The aircraft landed safely at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport, where security personnel conducted a thorough inspection.

Finnair said two of its flights had faced unfounded bomb threats, including a separate flight operated by Jettime from Helsinki to Vienna, which also landed safely.

Multiple airlines and European airports affected

The latest threats affected several airlines operating routes between major European cities.

The affected flights included:

* Aegean Airlines: A flight from Thessaloniki to Milan received a bomb alert and landed safely at Milan Malpensa Airport.

* Ryanair: A flight from Porto to Milan landed safely in Milan following a bomb threat.

* Aer Lingus: A flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to the Évreux military air base in France.

* Finnair: A flight from Helsinki to Rome landed under military escort at Rome's main airport.

* Wizz Air: A flight from Milan to Bucharest landed safely in the Romanian capital after a bomb alert.

* Wizz Air: A flight from Milan to Warsaw was diverted to Vienna, Austria.

* LOT Polish Airlines: A flight from Warsaw to Brussels landed safely, with inspections finding no suspicious materials.

* Ryanair: A flight from Copenhagen to Sofia landed safely in Bulgaria.

* Ryanair: A flight from Madrid to Sofia also landed safely.

* Ryanair: A flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where it landed safely.

Three Ryanair aircraft heading to Sofia from Copenhagen, Madrid and London were escorted by Bulgarian fighter jets. Security inspections found no explosives aboard any of the aircraft.

Four flights targeted while approaching Prague

In the Czech Republic, police confirmed that four flights approaching Prague received bomb threats.

The aircraft, operated by Ryanair, easyJet and Sky Express, landed safely at Václav Havel Airport, where security personnel carried out searches.

Czech police said no explosives or suspicious materials were discovered during the inspections.

Prague Airport spokeswoman Denisa Hejtmankova told AFP that the threats had been received through emails sent from anonymous addresses.

The police said they considered the threats to have low credibility but nevertheless activated all necessary security measures.

Threatening emails linked to a group calling itself 'Male State'

The airport operator Aeroporti di Roma confirmed that bomb threats against two flights approaching Rome were delivered through an email with the subject line "Threat Notification."

The messages reportedly claimed to be from a group identifying itself as the "Fighters of the Male State."

The group allegedly threatened to target what it described as a "feminist regime" and claimed it wanted to leave its mark on history through explosions.

The messages included threatening language warning that explosions would "turn the skies red."

Similar messages were reportedly sent to Sofia Airport in Bulgaria, threatening three Ryanair flights.

AFP reported that the messages contained misogynistic language and claimed responsibility on behalf of the so-called Male State.

However, the news agency said it could not independently establish any connection between the messages and a far-right Russian movement known by the same name.

The movement was designated an extremist organisation by Russian courts in 2021. Its actual involvement in the latest aviation threats has not been established.

Reuters reports wider aviation disruption

Reuters reported that the latest incidents also affected flights operated by Air Serbia, easyJet, Iberia and Air Europa.

An Air Serbia flight from Belgrade to Bucharest received a bomb threat but landed safely in Romania.

In Spain, the Guardia Civil confirmed that three threatening emails affected six flights at Madrid-Barajas Airport, including four Iberia flights arriving from Rome and Milan and two Air Europa departures to Paris.

Security inspections subsequently ruled out the reported threats.

Reuters also reported that a LOT Polish Airlines flight preparing to depart Warsaw for Paris was stopped while taxiing and moved to a designated parking area after a potential security threat was reported. No dangerous materials were found, and the journey continued using another aircraft.

The news agency said similar incidents had affected Ryanair, Wizz Air, Scandinavian Airlines and other carriers earlier in the week, prompting additional security operations in several European countries.

European authorities investigate possible links

The European Union's Transport Commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said it was too early to determine whether the incidents were connected.

European security authorities have increasingly raised concerns about hybrid threats, including cyberattacks, suspicious drone activity and other operations intended to disrupt critical infrastructure.

However, no official conclusion has been announced linking the latest aviation threats to a particular organisation, government or coordinated campaign.

According to AFP, approximately 20 commercial flights were affected by bomb alerts on Thursday, while the Associated Press reported that more than a dozen flights were targeted on the same day and at least 25 had faced threats during the week.

Despite the scale of the disruption, the affected aircraft landed safely, and no explosives have been discovered in the reported incidents so far.