Bomb Threats Force Flights to Land Across Europe

Bomb threats force flights to make unplanned landings across Europe, with planes diverted in France, Bulgaria and Belgium on Thursday morning and four more aircraft heading to Prague receiving threats. It is the latest in a series of threats targeting flights, Reuters reported.

An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome landed safely at Evreux airport, 100 kilometres west of Paris, after being diverted as a security precaution. The Irish airline said flight EI402 was diverted and landed safely.

Belgian media reported that an airliner forced to land at Brussels’ Zaventem airport belonged to the Polish airline LOT. A Finnair plane from Helsinki was safely escorted to its scheduled landing in Rome by the Italian air force, a source close to the matter said.

Bulgarian officials reported three aircraft making emergency landings because of bomb threats. Airplanes flying from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia, the interior minister said, according to broadcaster bTV. A third aircraft, from London, landed in Plovdiv, local media said.

Bomb threats force flights down as Prague assesses four more

Czech police said four airplanes heading to Prague received bomb threats on Thursday and police were preparing for their landing. The police said on X that they assessed the credibility of the threats as low.

“Nevertheless, we are not underestimating the threat, which is why all necessary security measures have been activated with minimal impact on passengers and airport operations,” police said. “After landing, all aircraft will undergo pyrotechnic inspections.”

No devices have been found in any of the incidents so far. The pattern, however, has grown through the week and is now affecting several countries at once.

A pattern that started earlier in the week

Thursday’s diversions followed a wider round of threats on Tuesday. At least seven flights and a cruise ship received bomb threats that day, causing disruption at airports across Europe. No devices were discovered in those cases either.

The repeated threats have forced airlines and airports to treat each warning seriously, even when police assess the credibility as low. Each incident means a diversion, an inspection and delays for passengers, whether or not a device exists.

For air travellers, the practical effect is disruption rather than danger so far. Flights land safely, aircraft are searched, and services resume after checks. The cost falls on airlines, airports and passengers caught in delays.

Pakistan’s own aviation sector has had a busy week too, with PIA announcing Karachi to London flights from March 2027. The contrast shows how quickly a security scare can interrupt schedules that airlines plan months ahead.

Hybrid attacks backdrop to the threats

While no country has attributed blame for the threats, they come at a time when European officials have been blaming both Russia and Iran for what they describe as “hybrid attacks” and acts of sabotage. Moscow and Tehran both deny any such campaign.

The phrase covers a range of activity below open conflict, from cyber attacks to sabotage and disinformation. Bomb threats against civilian flights fit the pattern of disruption without direct attribution, which is why officials have raised the link even without firm evidence.

France has already faced disruption of its own this week, with trade unions staging strikes and protests. The flight diversions add a security dimension to a tense week across Europe.

Aviation authorities have not announced any change to security procedures. PIA has faced its own operational strain, with 16 aircraft grounded, and its Birmingham service is also being rebuilt after a gap. The European incidents are a reminder that aviation disruption can come from threats on the ground as well as problems with aircraft.

The Korean peninsula has also seen military signalling this week, with North Korea testing an air-defence missile system. The European threats are separate, but they land in the same unsettled security climate.

Frequently asked questions

Which flights were diverted by bomb threats on Thursday?

An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to Evreux in France, a LOT aircraft landed at Brussels, a Finnair plane was escorted to Rome, and three aircraft made emergency landings in Bulgaria, two in Sofia and one in Plovdiv.

Did police find any devices on the planes?

No. No devices were found in Thursday’s incidents or in Tuesday’s round of threats, which hit at least seven flights and a cruise ship.

What did Czech police say about the Prague threats?

Czech police said four planes heading to Prague received bomb threats, assessed the credibility as low, and said all aircraft would undergo pyrotechnic inspections after landing.

Who is blamed for the bomb threats?

No country has attributed blame for the threats. European officials have blamed Russia and Iran for what they call hybrid attacks, but both Moscow and Tehran deny any such campaign.