news.today
Hello · Register today | LoginHello · My Account[—] [33]
World

Seven European flights targeted by bomb threats in coordinated scare

Summarised from 13 outlets · 20 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 10:14 · Archive

At least seven passenger flights across Europe were targeted by bomb threats on Tuesday; all landed safely and no explosives were found.

At least seven passenger flights across Europe received bomb threats on Tuesday, forcing emergency landings, airport diversions and temporary closures, but no explosives were discovered on any aircraft.

Two flights were bound for Warsaw. A LOT Polish Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw Chopin Airport carrying 181 people was diverted to Warsaw Modlin Airport at 9.54am after a bomb threat alert. The airport closed temporarily while the plane was searched. A spokesman for Modlin said: 'The passengers were evacuated and the plane underwent security checks. Nothing was found.' Scandinavian Airlines Flight SK751 from Copenhagen to Warsaw Chopin Airport landed as scheduled, with police and bomb squads present. No explosives were found.

A Ryanair flight from Manchester to Murcia in southern Spain landed with 114 passengers and seven crew members after receiving a bomb threat. Emergency services surrounded the aircraft and bomb disposal specialists inspected it. Francisco Lucas, Government Delegate for Murcia, said: 'Security protocol activated due to a bomb threat on a flight from Manchester that has landed in Murcia. The 114 passengers and seven crew members have disembarked and are undergoing a security check. At this time, the aircraft is being inspected.' He later confirmed that police 'ruled out the presence of explosives on the plane' and the airport resumed normal operations.

Two Ryanair flights landing in Rome were escorted by Italian air force jets. One originated from Dublin and the other from Lisbon, according to the BBC. Both underwent security checks after landing at Rome Fiumicino Airport. No explosives were found on either aircraft.

A fourth incident involved a flight from Israel that landed in Sofia, Bulgaria after receiving a bomb threat via email. Counter-terrorism units checked the plane for explosives. A fifth threat targeted a flight from Bergamo, Italy, which also landed safely in Sofia. Operations at affected airports resumed after searches were completed.

The incidents came a day after a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest on Monday after receiving a bomb threat during the flight, escorted by a Hungarian fighter jet.

Aviation security experts have suggested several possible explanations. Matthew Borie of Osprey Flight Solutions told outlets that a single credible threat could trigger copycat incidents, an individual or group could be making multiple threats, or the incidents could represent 'hybrid warfare' by state actors or their supporters. Some outlets report that security experts believe Russia may be behind the threats as part of a 'shadow war' against the West, though this remains unconfirmed. No group has claimed responsibility and authorities have not established whether the threats were coordinated. The British government called the incidents 'malicious hoax threats.' UK Counter-Terrorism Policing said it was aware of the incidents but said there is 'no active investigation' into any of them.

Seven European flights targeted by bomb threats in coordinated scare
Image: Daily Mail

Comments (0)

How it is being reported

In this story: London Heathrow · Manchester · Warsaw · Murcia · Rome · Sofia · Ryanair · LOT Polish Airlines

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log