The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Hoax bomb threats affect at least 20 European flights in a week
At least 15 flights in Europe deal with bomb threats, adding to what one expert calls an unusual level of hoaxes in a short time period, suggesting "a very deliberate act."
A surge of bomb-threat hoaxes affected at least 20 European flights this week, with authorities describing the incidents as unusual in scale and potentially deliberate.
On Thursday, a minimum of 15 commercial flights across Europe received bomb threats, triggering diversions, security checks, or escorts, though no explosives were found on any of the aircraft.
Among the disruptions, a flight from Ireland to Italy was diverted to a western French air base, with all passengers and crew deplaning safely as bomb specialists inspected the aircraft. Other affected flights included Finnish and Wizz Air services diverted or diverted and checked, with multiple landings proceeding normally after assessments.
Authorities reported that threats came via various channels, including email, and that several flights were forced to land and undergo security checks in airports such as Prague, Milan, and Bucharest, while some routes were redirected to alternative destinations or diverted to secure locations.
Security agencies and experts described the week’s events as an unusual, possibly coordinated series of threats, raising concerns about deliberate actions aimed at disrupting European air travel. No group has claimed responsibility, and investigators have not disclosed any confirmed suspects.