Bomb Threats Disrupt European Air Travel and Media Outlets

A wave of bomb threats continued to disrupt air travel across Europe on Friday, impacting at least 18 flights to nine countries. The threats also extended to media organizations, with Ireland's public broadcaster RTE evacuated and Britain's Sky News receiving a security alert. The perpetrators remain unidentified.

This latest surge follows earlier threats. On Tuesday, seven threats were reported, along with a false alarm concerning an Israeli cruise ship. On Thursday, at least 14 flights received bomb threats, including one bound for Israel. On Friday, an additional 18 flights were targeted. In Hungary, the Defense Minister stated that fighter jets escorted three passenger planes within an hour after each received a bomb threat. These escorted flights included routes from Brussels to Sofia, Prague to Cyprus, and Prague to Romania.

France reported four bomb threats against aircraft flying in its airspace. Other threats targeted a TAROM flight from Prague to Bucharest and a Ryanair flight from Portugal to Rome. A Wizz Air flight from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice following a bomb threat, and passengers were evacuated after landing. Prague's Václav Havel Airport confirmed that nine affected flights either departed from or were scheduled to land there, with routes originating from Denmark, Spain, and the UK, and heading to the Netherlands, UK, Cyprus, Italy, and Romania. All affected aircraft landed safely, and no explosives were found.

The threats also impacted media outlets. In Ireland, the headquarters of RTE in Dublin was evacuated due to a bomb threat, leading to live broadcasts being replaced by recorded programming. Employees were allowed back after a police sweep. Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin commented that such threats "illustrate how relatively easy it is to cause disruption and undermine the normal functioning of society through these kinds of unconventional actions, designed to create fear and anxiety." He added that an "extremely extensive security operation" would be in place next week when Dublin hosts EU leaders' meetings. Sky News also reported receiving a "security alert" and is cooperating with authorities. Bulgaria's NOVA TV also received a bomb threat via email.

Authorities are investigating the source of the threats, which occur amid heightened geopolitical tensions and warnings of potential Russian "hybrid threats" in Europe. While investigators have found no evidence linking the threats to a specific terrorist organization or state actor like Russia or Iran, investigations are ongoing. Some threats received on Thursday were signed by "Male State," a far-right Russian movement founded in 2016, though its founder denied involvement and claimed the group ceased to exist in 2021. An email threat received by Rome aviation authorities claimed to be from an anti-feminist group. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares suggested the disruptions are likely "hybrid aggression and psychological warfare," noting it's unlikely to be a coincidence given European support for Ukraine. Aviation cybersecurity expert Aliran Almog suggested the repeated threats could aim to disrupt operations, test authorities' responses, and undermine public confidence, especially in light of recent cyberattacks on European supermarket cooling systems and French blood banks.

Pilots are taking precautions, such as identifying diversion airports and carrying extra fuel, according to Paul Reuter, vice president of the European Cockpit Association. Mark Rowley, Commander of the Metropolitan Police in London, advised a measured response, drawing parallels to past experiences with the IRA, emphasizing the need to avoid overreacting to online threats.