Europe Sees Wave of Bomb Threats Disrupt Flights
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Over ten flights across Europe made emergency landings on Thursday, November 5, due to bomb threats, the second such incident this week. Flights were diverted to various airports, some escorted by fighter jets, but no explosives were found. The threats are occurring amid accusations of "hybrid attacks" against Russia and Iran, which they deny. An Israeli cybersecurity CEO suggested the disruptions aim to test responses and cause economic damage.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- More than 10 flights across Europe made emergency landings on November 5 due to bomb threats.
- None of the bomb threats received on November 5 were substantiated.
- The threats occurred on the same day as a bomb threat against an Israeli cruise ship in Greece.
- European officials have accused Russia and Iran of "hybrid attacks," which both countries deny.
- An Israeli cybersecurity CEO suggested the threats aim to disrupt operations and test responses.
- A similar wave of false threats occurred on Tuesday, November 3, affecting seven flights.
On Thursday, November 5, multiple airlines across Europe received a series of bomb threats targeting passenger planes, marking the second such incident in a week. Numerous flights were forced to make unscheduled landings, with some escorted by fighter jets. As of publication, none of the threats had been substantiated, according to Reuters.
An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to the Evreux Air Base in Normandy, France, as a precautionary measure. A Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome landed in Italy escorted by Italian Air Force fighters. Another Finnair flight, operated by Jettime from Helsinki, landed normally in Vienna after a bomb threat, as reported by the Finnish airline.
Bulgarian authorities reported three emergency landings due to bomb threats. Two flights from Copenhagen and Madrid landed safely in Sofia, while a third from London was diverted to Plovdiv. LOT Polish Airlines confirmed a flight from Warsaw to Brussels landed safely after a security alert, with no suspicious items found. Another LOT flight bound for Paris was halted on the tarmac before takeoff, and passengers were re-accommodated on a different aircraft.
Italian media reported a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw made an emergency landing in Vienna. Czech police stated that four flights bound for Prague received bomb threats on November 5, including two EasyJet, one Ryanair, and one Austrian Airlines flight, all of which landed at Prague's Ruzyne Airport and were inspected. Police assessed the threat level as low but planned to examine all aircraft.
No country has yet assigned responsibility for the threats, which come amid accusations from European officials against Russia and Iran for alleged "hybrid attacks." Both Moscow and Tehran deny these claims. Eliran Almog, CEO of Israeli cybersecurity firm Cyviation, suggested the threats aim to disrupt operations and test responses, noting their occurrence alongside cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems across Europe. He stated these incidents could undermine public trust.
This follows a similar wave of false threats on Tuesday, November 3, which affected seven flights. Notably, an Italian Air Force fighter jet escorted a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Rome, the same route as the earlier Aer Lingus incident. In Poland, Warsaw's Modlin Airport was temporarily closed after a LOT flight from London was diverted there; the flight carried 181 passengers, including a group of Jewish schoolchildren. Separately, a bomb threat was made against the Israeli cruise ship Crown Iris near the Greek island of Syros, but searches found no explosives.
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