Multiple aircraft across Europe were diverted or forced to make emergency landings on Thursday due to bomb threats that ultimately proved to be unfounded.
At least 11 planes, with origins including Copenhagen, Dublin, Helsinki, Madrid, Milan, and Warsaw, were affected by the incidents. The source of these threats remains unclear.
These events follow similar warnings issued to several flights in Europe on Tuesday, which the U.K. government characterized as "malicious hoax threats."
Czech police reported that upon receiving a threat concerning an improvised explosive device on four aircraft bound for Prague, they prepared for their landing with airport colleagues, assessing the threats as low in relevance. Subsequent inspections of the planes yielded negative results.
European officials have previously accused Russia and Iran of engaging in "hybrid attacks" and acts of sabotage, allegations that both countries deny, according to Reuters.
A flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a military air base in western France following a bomb threat. The flight landed safely at the base in Evreux in Normandy, with all 151 passengers and six crew members disembarking without incident.
A LOT Polish Airlines flight traveling from Warsaw to Brussels landed at its destination, where inspections confirmed the absence of any hazardous or suspicious items, the airline stated.
Similarly, a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Bucharest landed safely in Romania after a bomb threat, as confirmed by airport spokesperson Teo Postelnicu.
Finnair reported that its Flight 1761, en route from Helsinki to Rome, was subjected to a bomb threat. The aircraft landed safely in the Italian capital, and investigations found nothing suspicious.
Three Ryanair flights bound for Sofia, Bulgaria, were compelled to make emergency landings due to bomb threats. Two of these flights, one from Copenhagen and another from Madrid, landed safely at Sofia's Vasil Levski Airport. A third Sofia-bound flight, originating from London's Stansted Airport, was diverted and landed safely in Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city.
A Ryanair plane sits at Sofia Airport after bomb threats forced emergency landings across Europe.
A police officer and a sniffer dog inspect a Ryanair airplane and its baggage after a bomb threat.
A Finnair aircraft is seen on the tarmac at Fiumicino Airport.
