European aviation transport is on high alert, as consecutive threats concerning the planting of explosive devices on passenger aircraft have mobilized authorities across multiple countries. At least 12 aircraft found themselves at the center of bomb warnings within a few hours, with certain flights forced to divert and land at airports different from those initially scheduled.
A multitude of questions is also provoked by the revelation that the bomb threats against two flights bound for Rome reportedly originated from a common anonymous email, written in Italian. The message was sent in the early morning hours to addresses of the management company of the airports of Rome (ADR) and other companies operating at the airport, triggering the activation of prescribed security protocols.
At the same time, French Rafale fighter jets scrambled to intercept and escort an Aer Lingus passenger aircraft, which was operating the flight from Dublin to Rome and was ultimately guided to a military base in France. Concurrently, authorities in Bulgaria, Belgium, Austria, and Czechia were called upon to manage corresponding incidents.
The 12 flights that found themselves at the center of the bomb threats
- EI-DEH: Aer Lingus: Flight from Dublin to Rome, which diverted to the airport of Evreux in France.
- FR6410: Ryanair: Flight from Madrid to Sofia, Bulgaria.
- FR3606: Ryanair: Flight from Copenhagen to Sofia, Bulgaria.
- FR1730: Ryanair: Flight from London Stansted to Sofia, which diverted to Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
- LO235: LOT Polish Airlines: Flight from Warsaw to Brussels.
- W46387: Wizz Air: Flight from Milan (Malpensa airport) to Warsaw (Okecie airport), which diverted to Vienna, Austria.
- AY1761: Finnair: Flight from Helsinki to Fiumicino airport in Rome.
- AY1471: Finnair: Flight from Helsinki to Vienna, Austria.
- Four flights bound for Prague: Flight numbers and airlines had not yet been made known.
The suspicious email from Italy
According to reports cited by the Italian news agency, an anonymous email, written in Italian, served as the catalyst for the alert on two passenger aircraft heading toward Rome.
The email was sent in the early morning hours to addresses of ADR, as well as other companies operating at the capital airport of Italy. In the subject field, the phrase «segnalazione minaccia» was inscribed, meaning «threat report».
The two flights linked to the specific message were the Dublin-Rome route of Aer Lingus and the Helsinki-Rome route of Finnair.
Italian authorities have initiated an investigation, in which the police and the postal crime unit are participating, in order to determine who is behind the dispatch of the message and whether connections exist with the remaining incidents recorded in Europe.
Rafale escorted aircraft carrying 151 passengers
Turmoil also prevailed on the Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome. The Airbus A320, carrying 151 passengers and six crew members, was forced to alter course and head toward France, following a report of a potential bomb threat.
The French air force confirmed that its fighters scrambled to intercept the passenger airliner, following the activation of a security alert. A French Rafale undertook the escort of the Airbus, which ultimately touched down at the Evreux-Fauville military base, in northern France.
According to information cited by the French newspaper Le Figaro, the aircraft completed several circles over northern France before landing. The passengers and the crew were safe, while bomb disposal squads were on standby to carry out the necessary checks on the aircraft.
Alert also on Finnair flight to Rome
Meanwhile, an alarm was sounded for a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Fiumicino airport in Rome as well.
The aircraft landed normally, escorted by Italian air force fighters. Following the landing, designated security procedures were activated and police bomb disposal specialists initiated checks to locate prospective explosive devices.
According to airport sources, the checks were conducted without impacting the orderly operation of the airport.
Flight diversions in Bulgaria and Austria
In the meantime, in Bulgaria, the public broadcaster BNT reported that three incidents involving bomb threats were recorded on Ryanair flights.
Two aircraft, operating routes from Copenhagen and Madrid, landed in Sofia. The third, which had departed from London Stansted bound for the Bulgarian capital, diverted to the airport of Plovdiv.
A corresponding incident was also recorded on a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw. The Airbus A321, which had departed from Malpensa airport, was directed to Vienna following a bomb threat received while airborne.
The Hungarian airline confirmed the diversion, clarifying that the decision was taken in accordance with established security protocols and that it is cooperating fully with the competent authorities.
Threat on LOT flight to Brussels
Belgium also found itself at the epicenter of the incidents. According to newspaper Le Soir, a bomb threat was reported on a flight of Polish LOT from Warsaw to Brussels.
A spokesperson for the airport of Brussels confirmed that authorities received a «suspicious report regarding a flight to Brussels airport».
LOT confirmed the incident, clarifying that the crew was notified of the potential threat and conducted an inspection inside the aircraft, in accordance with prescribed procedures.
No suspicious items were identified, while after touching down at the airport of Brussels, an additional inspection followed by competent authorities, which likewise revealed no dangerous or suspicious findings.
Four aircraft targeted in Czechia
An alarm was sounded in Czechia as well, where police announced that they received reports regarding the potential presence of improvised explosive devices on four aircraft bound for Prague.
Authorities announced that they were preparing for their landing, assessing the credibility of the threats as low. However, they emphasized that they do not underestimate the danger and that they have activated all necessary security measures.
Following the landing of the aircraft, meticulous checks were set to be conducted by specialized bomb disposal units.
The... background
In any case, particular concern is caused by the fact that the threats did not emerge for the first time on Thursday. According to the Italian news agency, approximately ten flights in Europe had been targeted by false bomb alarms during the week.
Four of the previous warnings concerned flights of Ryanair, specifically the Manchester-Murcia, Lisbon-Rome, Dublin-Rome, and Dublin-Sofia routes.
The recurring threats, the geographical dispersal of the incidents, and the revelation regarding the shared anonymous email concerning two flights to Rome raise fresh questions regarding European aviation security.
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