30 aircraft, 8 countries, multiple flight diversions: What happened in Europe's latest bomb scare

Nearly 30 passenger flights across Europe were targeted by bomb threats on Thursday, triggering security responses and diversions across multiple countries. The incidents involved airlines operating in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Romania, with threats also directed at UK airports.

Aircraft were diverted or inspected in several instances, and some flights were escorted by military jets. In France, an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to an air base and escorted by fighter jets. Finnair flights from Helsinki to Rome and to Vienna were affected, with one escorted into Fiumicino and another diverted to Vienna, followed by security checks.

Poland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, Greece, and Italy saw further disturbances, including flights diverted, landed with security checks, or subjected to off-runway inspections. Airlines such as LOT, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Iberia, EasyJet and Aegean were among those affected, with several flights redirected to alternate airports or subjected to ground-based security procedures.

In the UK, Heathrow and Birmingham airports received threats described as malicious hoax threats, according to officials, with assessments of no credible risk to passengers or aircraft. UK authorities noted robust aviation-security processes in handling such situations. The UK government emphasized that the threats were treated seriously and managed through established procedures.

No explosives have been reported as found at the time of reporting. Authorities across Europe conducted security operations, with some aircraft escorted by military jets, while others underwent on-ground checks after landing. The events followed a wave of similar threats earlier in the week, contributing to ongoing concerns about aviation security and potential wider disruption.