European flights diverted after new round of bomb threats
More than a dozen aircraft were targeted on Thursday, with no suspicious materials found during inspections.
By Peter Graham ·
Authorities reported that more than a dozen flights across Europe were diverted or forced to make emergency landings on Thursday due to bomb threats. Inspections of the affected aircraft have not yet identified any hazardous or suspicious materials.
The latest round of incidents follows a series of hoax threats earlier this week. Those previous alerts led to extensive searches, flight diversions, and in one instance, a military escort for an arriving plane.
The Thursday disruptions affected routes originating from several major hubs. Airlines reported threats on flights departing from Copenhagen, Dublin, Helsinki, Madrid, Milan, and Warsaw.
An Aer Lingus aircraft traveling from Dublin to Rome was rerouted to a military air base in Evreux, western France. The plane is currently standing on the tarmac under an overcast sky, with metal gates securing the perimeter. A Red Cross vehicle is stationed nearby, though no active work is visible at the base of the aircraft. Passengers and crew are being held while explosives experts examine the plane.
Finnair confirmed that two of its services were affected by the Thursday alerts. Flight AY1761 from Helsinki to Rome and flight AY1471 from Helsinki to Vienna both received hoax bomb threats. The airline stated that both flights landed safely at their destinations and that all customers have disembarked. No suspicious items were found on either plane. The aircraft bound for Rome will return to Helsinki after inspection, while the Vienna flight will rejoin normal traffic after its checks are completed.
In the Czech Republic, police deployed to Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport to prepare for the landing of four planes after receiving threats of explosive devices on board. Police officials stated that all necessary security measures were activated for the arrivals. Subsequent searches of the four aircraft that landed in Prague found nothing suspicious, though authorities did not specify the origin of the flights.
These threats occur against a backdrop of increased geopolitical tensions in the region. Recent signs of disruption have included attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems, drone incursions in Europe, and mysterious triggers to alert apps.
