Bomb threats disrupt flights across Europe, no explosive devices found
A series of bomb threats against passenger flights across Europe prompted emergency searches and airport disruptions on Tuesday, with all threats proving false and no explosive devices discovered.
At least seven flights and an Israel-bound cruise ship were targeted across Europe on Tuesday, according to officials. All planes landed safely, and searches found no explosives. The affected airlines included Ryanair, Wizz Air, Scandinavian Airlines and the Polish carrier LOT, with Ryanair appearing to be the hardest hit, as four of its flights to different destinations were targeted.
Airport closures
In Poland, two Warsaw-bound flights were targeted. Scandinavian Airlines Flight SK751 from Copenhagen landed without incident at Warsaw Chopin Airport, which closed a runway during inspection. A LOT Polish Airlines flight from London's Heathrow was diverted to Warsaw Modlin, which was subsequently closed after the alert.
The passengers disembarked, the plane landed normally; it was not an emergency landing.
Military escorts
In Italy, two Eurofighter jets escorted Ryanair Flight FR9611 from Dublin into Rome's Fiumicino Airport. An earlier Ryanair flight from Lisbon that landed at Fiumicino was also subjected to anti-bomb procedures, with all checks proving negative. In Spain, Aena activated an emergency protocol for a Ryanair flight from Manchester, which landed safely in Murcia.
Pattern of threats
The incidents followed a similar episode on Monday when a Wizz Air flight from London's Luton Airport to Bulgaria received a bomb threat midair and was diverted to Budapest. Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said NATO's air-defence alert service had flagged the flight, and Hungarian Gripen fighter jets escorted it safely.
In the United Kingdom, London's Metropolitan Police reported threats against four aircraft at Heathrow and one at Manchester. Late Tuesday, the Greek Coast Guard evacuated a Panama-flagged cruise ship, the Crown Iris, carrying about 1,500 passengers and crew bound for Israel, after a bomb threat while anchored off Syros.
Hybrid attacks
While no country claimed responsibility, officials noted the threats came amid European accusations of 'hybrid attacks' against Russia and Iran, which both deny. Some experts suggested the bomb threats could be part of coordinated disruption efforts, similar to recent hacker attacks on supermarket refrigerators across Europe.
Rhys Jones of aviation risk advisory firm Osprey Flight Solutions called seven confirmed bomb threats in a single day exceptional, noting: 'The lack of clear target state, airline or route indicates that general disruption to aviation operations is the aim.'
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