Bomb Threats Disrupt 12 European Flights, Fighter Jets Respond

On Thursday, at least 12 flights in Europe faced bomb threats, prompting fighter jets to escort some planes and forcing at least two to divert. This incident marks the third day of similar alerts this week, particularly affecting low-cost airlines.

Fighter jets from Italy, France, and Bulgaria were deployed as part of the response. The threats mainly targeted flights to and from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Italy. For example, a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome was escorted by Italian air force jets, while an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was guided to a military base near Paris.

In total, over 20 bomb threats have been reported this week, with low-cost carrier Ryanair being the most affected, facing at least seven threats. Three Ryanair flights headed to Sofia from Madrid, Copenhagen, and London Stansted were among those targeted. While two landed safely in Sofia, one was diverted to Plovdiv Airport.

Other airlines also faced similar situations. A Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw was rerouted to Vienna due to a threat, while another flight from Milan to Bucharest landed safely. An Aer Lingus flight was also redirected to Evreux air base in France after receiving a bomb threat.

Authorities have stated that the credibility of these threats appears low, but they are taking all necessary precautions. The origin and motives behind the threats remain unclear, but they coincide with a rise in hybrid attacks in Europe, which some link to Russia or Iran.

This week has seen a series of hoaxes, with previous threats leading to the closure of a Warsaw airport and emergency landings. All flights involved in the recent alerts landed safely, and no explosives were found.