Dozens of flights across Europe were targeted by hoax bomb threats this week, leading to flight diversions, emergency landings, and military escorts. While no suspicious items were found and no one was injured, the unusual number of threats in a short period has raised concerns about potential coordinated hybrid warfare operations.
This series of threats followed disruptions including attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems and drone incursions. Security experts are scheduled to meet in Brussels to discuss measures to counter these hoaxes. The European air traffic authority stated that overall, the threats caused minimal disruption to aviation.
In addition to the flight threats, three broadcasters—Irish national broadcaster RTE, U.K.-based Sky, and Bulgaria's NOVA TV—received security threats. Separately, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reported that his personal data was disseminated on the dark web, and he faced threats and intimidation, which Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni attributed to pro-Russian hackers.
Authorities have not attributed the airline threats to any specific group or state actor, and no evidence has emerged linking them to a government. An email sent to airport authorities in Rome claimed to be from an anti-feminist group targeting a "feminist regime." A similar threat was received by another European airport.
In Amsterdam, a man was detained at Schiphol Airport in connection with a threat to a flight bound for Prague, though it was unclear if this was linked to the other hoaxes. The man was later released. Experts suggest possibilities ranging from copycat incidents to deliberate hybrid warfare operations by state actors or their supporters, with a potential Russian or Iranian angle being considered.
Security experts noted that these threats serve to "stress-test" the response mechanisms of European governments and airport officials, potentially sowing chaos and uncertainty about air traffic reliability, with cascading economic effects. Travelers were advised not to be alarmed, as national authorities have coordinated response mechanisms in place.