A wave of bomb threats targeting passenger flights has disrupted air travel across Europe in recent days, forcing several aircraft to divert, make unscheduled landings and undergo extensive security checks.
Although no explosives have been discovered so far, the alerts have triggered emergency security procedures at airports in several countries.
Multiple Ryanair flights were among those affected, including two aircraft searched at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on Tuesday following potential bomb threats.
Airport operator ADR said a flight from Lisbon landed at 9.40am Central European Time, while another from Dublin arrived at 10.30am after being escorted by the Italian Air Force.
Both aircraft underwent security inspections, including searches of the planes, luggage, passengers and crew. The alerts were subsequently cleared, with ADR confirming there was no threat to the airport itself and other flights continued operating normally.
Another Ryanair flight from Manchester triggered a security alert after landing at Murcia International Airport in Spain on Nov 3.
Regional government delegate Francisco Lucas said all 121 people on board, including 114 passengers and seven crew members, were evacuated and subjected to security checks while authorities inspected the aircraft.
A separate bomb threat was also reported on a Ryanair flight travelling from Dublin to Sofia, Bulgaria, on the same day.
The aircraft landed safely with 185 passengers on board, and an inspection found no explosives, according to Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry.
Wizz Air flights also targeted
Two Wizz Air flights were affected by bomb threats involving Sofia.
A flight from Milan/Bergamo to Sofia landed safely on Nov 3 with 176 passengers on board. Security inspections subsequently found no explosive devices.
The previous day, another Wizz Air aircraft travelling from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest following a bomb threat.
Hungary’s Defence Minister said a Hungarian Gripen fighter jet was scrambled to escort the aircraft.
Polish airports face security alerts
LOT Polish Airlines also experienced disruption on Nov 3 when a flight from London made an unscheduled landing at Warsaw-Modlin Airport following a bomb threat alert.
Airport operations were temporarily suspended before resuming around midday. The aircraft was inspected by security personnel, while passengers and crew waited in the arrivals hall for further instructions.
Meanwhile, a bomb threat was reported on an SAS Scandinavian Airlines flight travelling from Copenhagen to Warsaw.
The aircraft landed safely at Warsaw Chopin Airport, where passengers disembarked and the plane was inspected.
Polish authorities later said the threat had not been confirmed, and airport operations continued.
Earlier incident involving Austrian Airlines
The latest wave of alerts follows an earlier incident on Oct 18 involving an Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna.
The aircraft diverted to Sofia after a reported bomb threat while flying over Romania.
A Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet escorted the Airbus A320, which landed about 30 minutes after the alert was raised. Passengers were evacuated as a precaution.
Austrian Airlines confirmed that 51 passengers and six crew members were on board, with no injuries reported.
A subsequent security inspection found no threat, allowing the aircraft to continue its journey to Vienna with all passengers.
