By Salma El-Sakka
Seven passenger planes across Europe, including two departing from the UK, were inspected on Tuesday following a series of suspected bomb threats, authorities said. No explosives were found.
Flights inspected in Italy, Spain and Poland
Two Ryanair flights, from Dublin and Lisbon, were searched after landing at Rome's Fiumicino airport following anonymous tips. The Dublin flight was escorted by the Italian Air Force. In Spain, a Ryanair flight from Manchester was searched at Murcia airport. In Poland, two flights bound for Warsaw were affected, including one from London Heathrow diverted to Modlin airport.
UK government calls threats 'malicious hoaxes'
The UK government described the incidents as "malicious hoax threats" and said it has one of the world's most robust aviation security systems. Aviation security expert Paul Mason said the coordinated nature of the threats across multiple airlines suggested a deliberate act.
Passenger describes evacuation in Spain
A passenger on the Manchester-Murcia flight, identified only as Sarah, said the plane stopped suddenly on the runway and was surrounded by fire engines and a bomb squad. Passengers were evacuated and left belongings on board.
Bomb threats reported in Bulgaria
Bulgarian Transport Minister Georgi Peev said two flights heading to Sofia, from Bergamo and Dublin, received bomb threats via email. No explosives were found after checks.
Previous day incident in Hungary
The incidents follow a Wizz Air flight from London Luton making an emergency landing in Budapest on Monday after a bomb threat, escorted by a Hungarian fighter jet. Security checks found nothing.
Experts outline bomb threat procedures
Aviation safety experts Marco Chan and Terry Tozer explained that crews treat threats as genuine until resolved, conducting quiet searches of toilets and galleys. Once on the ground, planes are taken to isolated stands for police and bomb disposal searches.
