European Air Traffic Hit by New Wave of Bomb Threats
Fourteen flights faced alerts on Thursday alone, part of a multi-day surge in hoaxes that also targeted broadcasters in Ireland and the UK.
By Alyssa Parker ·
European aviation authorities are managing a surge in reported bomb threats that has forced diversions and security checks across multiple countries. The alerts arrived on Friday, adding to a series of incidents that disrupted schedules earlier in the week.
Eurocontrol, the European air traffic management agency, tracked 14 flights under threat on Thursday. That number represents 0.05% of the nearly 26,300 flights operating across the network that day. The agency reported seven additional threats on Tuesday. While the volume is high for a short period, the authority stated the overall impact on continental air traffic remains minimal.
The threats have triggered specific operational responses in several nations. In Hungary, Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi announced that military fighter jets escorted three passenger planes through national airspace on Friday. The flights originated from Brussels, Prague, and other cities and were headed to destinations including Sofia, Cyprus, and Romania. The jets took action within one hour of each plane receiving an alert.
France experienced four new threats on Friday targeting aircraft flying over its territory. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's office confirmed that the planes landed safely at Paris Orly Airport. Bomb disposal teams inspected the aircraft, though officials did not release details on the specific carriers or routes affected.
Czech authorities reported that nine flights were threatened at Prague's Vaclav Havel Airport. The alerts covered arrivals from Denmark, Spain, and Britain, as well as departures to the Netherlands, Cyprus, Romania, Italy, and Britain. Spokesperson Denisa Hejtmánková stated that police security measures had a minimal impact on normal operations. In Copenhagen, police visited the airport for a second consecutive day as a precaution, assessing that no immediate danger existed for passengers.
Other affected routes include a Tarom flight from Prague to Bucharest and a Ryanair service from Lisbon to Rome. A WizzAir flight from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice following a bomb alert, leading to the evacuation of passengers upon landing. Inspectors found no suspicious items on any of the affected aircraft.
The wave of hoaxes coincides with other disruptions in Europe, including drone incursions and attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems. Authorities have not linked the threats to a specific group or state actor. One email sent to Rome airport authorities on Thursday claimed to come from an anti-feminist group targeting a "feminist regime." A similar threat reached another European airport, but it is unclear if the sender was the same.
Paul Reuter, vice president of the European Cockpit Association, said pilots are reviewing diversion procedures and carrying extra fuel. He described the use of civil aviation for geopolitical disruption as "totally unacceptable," noting that crews are prepared to respond professionally despite the tension.
Threats extended beyond aviation on Friday. The Dublin headquarters of Irish national broadcaster RTE was evacuated after a bomb alert. Live broadcasts were replaced with pre-recorded programs until police and sniffer dogs cleared the building. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the incident illustrates how simple it is to cause disruption through unconventional activities. He announced a major security operation for upcoming European Political Community and EU leader meetings in Dublin. U.K.-based broadcaster Sky also confirmed it received a security threat, stating it was working with authorities to keep operations secure.
