By Islam El-Sakka
Several flights across Europe were targeted by bomb threats on Tuesday that turned out to be hoaxes, prompting searches, diversions and, in one case, an Italian Air Force escort, officials said. No injuries were reported and none of the aircraft made emergency landings.
Italy
A Ryanair flight from Lisbon landed at Rome’s Fiumicino airport after an emailed bomb threat. Police bomb disposal experts searched passengers, crew and baggage and found no explosives. Another Ryanair flight from Dublin to Rome received a similar threat; Italy’s air force escorted the plane to Fiumicino where the same security checks were conducted, also with negative results.
Poland
A LOT Polish Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw was diverted to Modlin airport following a bomb threat. The airport was temporarily closed while the aircraft was searched; nothing was found. Passengers were later transported to Warsaw’s Chopin Airport by coach. Separately, a Scandinavian Airlines flight from Copenhagen to Chopin Airport was also checked after a report of a potentially dangerous item on board. The plane landed normally and no threat was found.
Spain
Spanish authorities ruled out explosives on a Ryanair flight from Manchester that landed at Murcia airport after a bomb threat. All 121 passengers and crew underwent security screening and the aircraft was inspected, with no devices discovered.
The incidents follow a bomb threat last month that forced a Tel Aviv to Vienna flight to make an emergency landing.
