European flights diverted after wave of false bomb threats
At least 25 flights across the continent were affected Thursday, prompting the European Commission to launch an information-sharing mechanism among member states.
By Jack Weber ·
A coordinated wave of false bomb threats disrupted air traffic across Europe on Thursday, affecting at least 25 flights and forcing several aircraft to change their routes or land at military bases. The incidents spanned multiple countries, including Spain, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, and involved both major national carriers and low-cost airlines.
The disruption began on Tuesday when the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport received a notification of a potential explosive threat. The alert impacted three specific flights: one departing for Paris, and two arriving from Rome and Milan. Sources at Aena, the airport operator, confirmed that the threats targeted two Iberia aircraft and one Air Europa plane. A security committee was formed with the State Security Forces and Police. After inspections, the authorities determined the threats were unfounded.
The situation escalated on Thursday. A flight operating between Dublin and Rome was forced to divert while flying over French airspace. According to France 3, two fighter jets escorted the aircraft to the Évreux air base east of Paris. The pilot initially refused to land at the military installation, but the plane eventually touched down after being directed by the interceptors. No suspicious items were found upon inspection.
In Bulgaria, the Ministry of Transport reported that three Ryanair flights bound for the country from Madrid, London, and Copenhagen were affected by similar alerts. Military aircraft escorted these planes until they landed safely. In Finland, Finnair stated that one of its flights, carrying 144 passengers, was accompanied by Italian fighter jets before arriving in Rome without incident. Austria also deployed Eurofighter jets to monitor and protect threatened aircraft in its airspace.
Ground operations were also impacted. At Warsaw Chopin Airport, one runway was temporarily closed after a LOT flight to Paris, which had not yet taken off, was subject to a possible threat. Piotr Rudzki, a spokesperson for Polish Airports, confirmed the closure. In Copenhagen, police and military bomb disposal units responded to two parked aircraft, according to the Ritzau news agency. In the United Kingdom, threats at Heathrow and Birmingham airports were later deemed not credible by authorities. A delay occurred at Cork Airport in Ireland due to a similar alert.
The European Commission announced it had activated a mechanism to share information among EU member states in response to the series of incidents. The Commission noted that it is too early to determine if the threats are linked. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, said on social media that the Commission is monitoring the situation closely and is in contact with affected states and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, known as AESA.
AESA, based in Cologne, stated that pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport staff have received training for such unexpected events. The agency assessed that the immediate risk to operational safety from isolated false threats is low. However, it confirmed it will continue to monitor the events to evaluate any potential impact on aviation safety.
The International Air Transport Association condemned the attempts to disrupt air traffic. The group urged authorities to identify the origin of the threats and to reassure passengers that safety measures are in place. A senior military official from NATO said the alliance is monitoring the situation and maintaining close coordination with allies. The official noted that some aircraft were transferred to NATO following emergency takeoffs in the last few days.
