Europe Hit by Fresh Wave of Bomb Threats as Fighter Jets Escort Passenger Planes Across 16 Countries: A fresh wave of bomb threats has disrupted air travel across Europe, forcing passenger aircraft to divert, undergo emergency security inspections and, in several cases, receive military fighter jet escorts. The incidents have triggered widespread aviation security operations, marking the second major outbreak of suspected hoax threats in less than a week.
On Thursday, November 5, flights connected to 16 European countries, including Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain and Denmark, were affected. The disruptions continued into Friday, November 6, with additional aircraft targeted and authorities scrambling to determine who was behind the alarming series of warnings.
Despite the scale of the incidents, security inspections have so far found no explosives or suspicious materials aboard the affected aircraft, and no passengers have been reported injured.
Aer Lingus Flight Diverted to French Military Base
One of the most serious incidents involved an Aer Lingus passenger aircraft travelling from Dublin to Rome. The Airbus A320, operating flight EI402, was diverted to a military airbase near Évreux in northern France after authorities received a bomb threat.
French military aircraft were scrambled to intercept and escort the passenger plane. According to French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s office, the aircraft landed at Évreux-Fauville airbase with 151 passengers and six crew members on board.
Passengers were moved to a secure location while bomb disposal specialists examined the aircraft. No explosive device was discovered.
French authorities also questioned the pilot and co-pilot as part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the diversion. The airline said its crew had fully cooperated with French officials and emphasised that passenger safety remained its priority.
Ryanair Flights Targeted Across Bulgaria
Bulgaria was another major focus of Thursday’s security alerts, with three Ryanair flights heading towards Sofia receiving military escorts.
The aircraft were travelling from Copenhagen, Madrid and London. While the flights from Copenhagen and Madrid landed safely in Sofia, the aircraft departing from London was diverted to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second-largest city.
Bulgarian fighter jets were deployed to escort the aircraft, while emergency security procedures were activated at the airports.
Other airlines were also affected. A Finnair aircraft travelling from Helsinki to Rome received an Italian Air Force escort after an anonymous bomb-threat email was sent to aviation authorities. The aircraft landed safely.
In Poland, a LOT Polish Airlines flight preparing to depart Warsaw for Paris was stopped before take-off. Passengers were instructed to leave the aircraft while security personnel conducted inspections. Another LOT flight travelling from London Heathrow to Warsaw was redirected to Warsaw-Modlin Airport following a separate warning.
Multiple Threats Reported in Spain and Other Countries
Spanish authorities received three bomb-threat emails within approximately 20 minutes, involving two Air Europa departures from Madrid to Paris and four incoming Iberia flights from Rome and Milan.
Several aircraft were stopped or returned to their parking positions as passengers disembarked and security teams carried out inspections.
In Ireland, a flight departing from Cork experienced a delay of approximately 90 minutes after the airport received a security warning.
Other incidents involved aircraft operated by Wizz Air, EasyJet, Aegean Airlines and Air Serbia. Several flights landed at their scheduled destinations but were subjected to additional security checks.
Threats Continue on Friday
The situation remained unsettled on Friday, November 6, as further warnings affected European aviation.
A Ryanair flight arriving in Lisbon from Italy was targeted by a bomb threat communicated to Portuguese authorities. Police carried out a security inspection after the aircraft landed, but no explosive device or suspicious object was discovered.
Separately, a Wizz Air aircraft travelling from Paris towards Rome was diverted to Venice after an alert concerning a possible explosive device. Passengers were evacuated while police examined the aircraft.
At least 18 additional flights were affected by Friday’s incidents, according to reports, with disruptions involving Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Hungary, Cyprus, Romania, the United Kingdom and Portugal.
Hungary also scrambled fighter jets on multiple occasions to escort threatened passenger aircraft through its airspace.
Investigators Examine Possible Coordinated Campaign
Although authorities have not identified those responsible, the unusual frequency and geographical spread of the threats have raised concerns about a potentially coordinated campaign.
Some threatening emails reportedly carried the name of a group calling itself ‘Male State Fighters’. The name resembles that of Male State, a Russian far-right movement designated an extremist organisation by Russian courts in 2021.
However, investigators have not established any connection between the group and the threats. Nor has any government publicly attributed responsibility for the incidents.
Security experts have raised the possibility of copycat threats, coordinated criminal activity or a broader hybrid campaign designed to disrupt essential infrastructure and undermine public confidence.
European countries have previously accused Russia of conducting sabotage and other destabilising operations, allegations Moscow has denied. However, there is currently no verified evidence connecting the latest aviation threats to any government.
The incidents have also highlighted the vulnerability of Europe’s transport infrastructure to relatively inexpensive disruptions. Even when threats prove false, authorities must treat them seriously, divert aircraft, deploy emergency teams and conduct extensive security checks.
For now, all reported affected aircraft have landed safely, and searches have found no explosives. Investigations are continuing as European aviation authorities work to establish whether the latest alerts are connected and identify those responsible.
