Several European flights receive bomb threats, some divert
At least a dozen commercial flights across Europe made unscheduled or high-alert landings this week following bomb threats, with some planes diverted and others landing with military escorts.
The incidents affected flights in Austria, France, Italy, Belgium, Czechia and Bulgaria, with planes making unscheduled landings in Evreux, Vienna, and Bulgaria. A flight from Finland landed in Rome as scheduled but with a military escort, while various other flights touched down at their destinations amid security alerts.
The French incident became public knowledge first, with an Aer Lingus Airbus A320 diverted to Evreux airbase west of Paris. The flight was traveling from Dublin to Rome when the threat was received. France's air force dispatched planes to escort the diverted aircraft.
Multiple affected carriers
Finland's Finnair reported two planes landing at their scheduled destinations amid security scares. One flight from Helsinki to Rome landed with a military escort, while another Jettime flight from the Finnish capital also landed in Vienna as scheduled.
A Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw made an unscheduled landing in Vienna. Bulgaria reported three aircraft making emergency landings due to bomb threats, including three Ryanair flights to Sofia from Copenhagen, Madrid and London Stansted.
Security measures
Italian authorities confirmed two planes—an Aegean Airlines flight from Thessaloniki and a Ryanair flight from Porto—landed at Milan's Malpensa airport as scheduled after receiving bomb alerts. Police in the Czech Republic prepared officials at Prague airport for four landings after threats of improvised explosive devices.
Previous incidents
Earlier bomb threats this week turned out to be hoaxes that nevertheless caused diversions and major security mobilizations. The threats targeted airlines including Poland's LOT, Scandinavian Airlines, Wizz Air and Ryanair. In one case, the Italian air force escorted a plane to its emergency landing.
While not yet confirmed as linked, these aviation disruptions coincided with apparent cyberattacks targeting freezer units in major supermarkets and French blood banks. All cases remain under investigation, bearing potential hallmarks of hybrid attacks designed to cause maximum disruption with minimal resources.
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