By Karim Hammam
At least seven flights across Europe were grounded on Tuesday following a series of bomb threats that triggered emergency landings and extensive security searches. The incidents, which began early in the morning, affected airlines including Ryanair, LOT Polish Airlines, SAS, and Wizz Air, with flights originating from the UK, Portugal, Ireland, Denmark, Israel, and Italy.
Ryanair flights searched after anonymous tips
Two Ryanair flights – one from Lisbon and one from Dublin – were searched following anonymous tips about potential bomb threats. The airline confirmed both aircraft were inspected after being forced to make emergency landings. Earlier reports indicated the Dublin flight may have been diverted to Rome's Fiumicino airport, while another Ryanair flight from Dublin later landed in Sofia, Bulgaria, alongside a Wizz Air flight from Bergamo. Bulgarian authorities said no explosive devices were found on either plane, which carried 185 and 176 passengers respectively.
London flight diverted to Warsaw-Modlin
A LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 737 MAX flying from London Heathrow to Warsaw Chopin was diverted to Warsaw-Modlin airport after a bomb alert at 8:54 GMT. The aircraft, carrying 181 people, landed seven minutes later. Bomb disposal experts examined the plane and passengers' luggage, and the airport was temporarily closed before resuming operations. A spokesperson for Modlin Airport said the plane was directed to a designated area until authorities cleared it.
Other incidents across the continent
An SAS flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw received a bomb threat but landed as scheduled at Chopin Airport, where no device was found. A Ryanair flight from Manchester to Murcia, Spain, was also targeted; the threat was later deemed a hoax. A flight from Israel landed at Sofia airport after an emailed bomb threat, and a flight from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest following a suspected bomb threat that proved false.
Context: hybrid attack concerns
The wave of threats comes amid growing European concerns about hybrid warfare targeting infrastructure, particularly since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In August, an explosive-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian plane at Leipzig/Halle airport in Germany, prompting a counterterrorism investigation. Moscow has denied involvement in sabotage operations and has not commented on Tuesday's incidents. The UK Civil Aviation Authority acknowledged the reports but declined to comment on specific cases.
