Over a dozen European flights diverted following coordinated bomb threats
Authorities inspected aircraft in France, Finland, and the Czech Republic on Thursday after receiving reports of potential explosive devices.
By Gavin Wilson ·
More than a dozen flights across Europe were diverted or made emergency landings on Thursday in response to bomb threats, according to aviation authorities.
The incidents affected departures from Copenhagen, Dublin, Helsinki, Madrid, Milan, and Warsaw. Inspections so far have not revealed hazardous or suspicious materials on any of the targeted aircraft.
This series of diversions follows similar hoax threats earlier in the week. Those previous alerts prompted extensive searches and, in one instance, a military escort for the affected plane. Officials noted that such threats are not new but are occurring amid rising geopolitical tensions. Recent signs of disruption in the region have included attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems, drone incursions, and mysterious triggers for public alert apps.
An Aer Lingus jet traveling from Dublin to Rome was rerouted to Evreux in western France. The aircraft is currently parked on the tarmac at a military air base under an overcast sky. A Red Cross vehicle is positioned nearby, though no activity is visible at the base of the plane. Metal gates surround the base, restricting access to outsiders. It remains unclear where the passengers and crew are being held while explosives experts examine the fuselage.
Finnair confirmed that two of its flights faced unfounded threats on Thursday. Flight AY1761 from Helsinki to Rome and flight AY1471 from Helsinki to Vienna both landed safely at their destinations. The carrier stated that customers have disembarked and nothing suspicious was found on the planes. The Rome-bound aircraft is undergoing inspection before returning to Helsinki, while the Vienna flight will return to normal traffic service after its check is complete.
In the Czech Republic, police deployed to Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport after receiving threats regarding four incoming planes. Authorities stated that all necessary security measures had been activated to prepare for the landings. Police later reported that searches of the aircraft found nothing suspicious, though they did not specify the origin of the flights.
The next step for the affected airlines involves completing the final inspections of the diverted aircraft. Once cleared, the planes are scheduled to resume their regular routes.
