As 15 European flights get bomb threats in a day, expert says scale of hoaxes suggests "deliberate act"

At least 15 European commercial flights faced bomb threats on Thursday, with authorities noting no explosives were found and all aircraft appeared to be hoaxes. One of the flights was diverted to a military base in western France, but no injuries or detentions have been reported.

Among the impacted journeys were carriers including Aer Lingus, Finnair, Wizz Air, LOT, Ryanair, and several others, with several planes diverted or escorted for security checks. Milan and Madrid-based departures were among those affected, and some flights landed safely after assessments.

In France, a Dublin-to-Rome flight turned off its expected route and landed at an air base near Evreux for security checks, where passengers and crew disembarked as bomb disposal teams examined the aircraft. Other flights were escorted by fighter jets or directed to alternative airports for scrutiny.

Across the region, authorities conducted onboard security checks and aircraft searches, with Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, and the Czech Republic among the countries reporting landings and safety verifications. A number of flights were able to land in their destinations after threat assessments, with no hazardous items found.

Experts noted the scale and breadth of the incidents as unusual, describing the threats as potentially credible and suggesting a deliberate act rather than isolated hoaxes. There was no confirmed link between the threats, and no group has claimed responsibility as investigations continue.