Hoax bomb threats prompted unplanned landings and fighter jet escorts for at least 25 flights across European airlines, with London Heathrow and Birmingham airports in the UK also receiving threats early Monday. Authorities confirmed the threats at the British airports were quickly resolved and deemed not credible, with flights continuing as normal.
The Metropolitan Police's aviation policing command monitored the situation and coordinated with relevant authorities. This series of false threats marks the second time this week that European airlines have been targeted, causing disruptions from Ireland to Bulgaria.
A UK Government spokesperson stated that while authorities must treat all potential threats seriously, the UK possesses robust aviation security systems designed to handle malicious hoaxes. Birmingham Airport echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that customer and colleague safety remains its highest priority and that standard security protocols were enacted.
While no country has officially attributed blame for the threats, they arrive amid heightened tensions where European officials have accused Russia of orchestrating sabotage and "hybrid attacks." Denmark, Poland, and Romania have previously pointed fingers at Moscow, while Germany blamed Russia for an incident at Leipzig airport in August. Britain has also implicated Russia in the past, alongside Iran for a separate suspected plot.
Experts suggest these threats could be part of a hybrid warfare strategy, aimed at disrupting operations and observing responses from airlines, airports, and national authorities. The aviation sector joins other essential services, such as supermarket refrigeration systems and blood banks, that have recently experienced disruptions.
In Bulgaria, fighter jets escorted three airliners to the ground following threats. Ryanair flights from Copenhagen and Madrid to Sofia landed as planned, while a flight from Stansted to Sofia was diverted. Spanish authorities reported multiple email threats targeting both departing and arriving flights. Similar incidents occurred in Prague, where two easyJet flights from Britain and one from Ireland landed safely after police assessed the threats as low-credibility.
Italy's air force escorted a Finnair plane from Helsinki to Rome, and two planes landed safely in Milan after receiving threats. A LOT flight from Warsaw to Brussels landed as scheduled after a security warning, though another LOT flight from Warsaw to Paris was halted before takeoff as a precaution. Wizz Air flights also experienced diversions.
Aer Lingus flight EI402 from Dublin to Rome landed safely at a French airport, and in Denmark, police searched two planes at Copenhagen airport without finding any devices.
Flight safety protocols dictate that threats are assessed for credibility. If deemed not credible, passengers are often not informed. However, credible threats result in immediate notification of flight crews, with the captain making decisions prioritizing aircraft safety, which typically involves evacuation on the tarmac or a swift landing if airborne.