Bomb Threat Near KLM Plane En Route to Israel Prompts Security Checks in Bucharest

A KLM flight bound for Tel Aviv made an unscheduled landing in Bucharest, Romania, on Thursday after a bomb threat was received shortly after its planned technical stop. The aircraft, which had departed from Amsterdam, landed in the Romanian capital for a routine technical halt. Following the landing, authorities were alerted to a suspicious device near the plane, triggering immediate security investigations. One passenger documented the unfolding events.

This incident occurs amidst a wave of false bomb threats across Europe that have disrupted dozens of flights. According to Reuters, at least 25 passenger flights in Europe received such threats on Thursday, leading to emergency landings or security screenings at various airports. Affected countries include France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

In Romania, a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Bucharest also received a threat and landed safely. In France, a flight with 151 passengers traveling from Dublin to Rome was diverted to an air force base. The Czech Republic reported threats concerning four planes landing in Prague.

The surge in threats began earlier in the week, with at least seven flights in Poland, Italy, Spain, and Bulgaria receiving bomb warnings on Tuesday. Fighter jets were scrambled to escort some of these passenger planes, but no explosives were found in any of the day's inspections. European authorities have not yet established a connection between the various threats, and no group has claimed responsibility. An aviation security expert suggested to Reuters that the lack of a clear pattern in airline and destination choices might indicate an aim to disrupt civilian air traffic in Europe. It remains unclear if the threat to the KLM flight is linked to this broader pattern.