By Karim Hammam
An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to Evreux air base in northern France on Thursday following a bomb threat, the French prime minister's office confirmed. The Airbus A320, operating as flight EI402, issued an emergency alert and landed safely. Aer Lingus said the diversion was a security precaution and it would re-accommodate passengers to their final destination as soon as possible.
Wizz Air flight diverted to Vienna
Separately, a Wizz Air flight traveling from Milan to Warsaw issued an emergency alert and diverted to Vienna, Austria. No bomb threat has been reported for that flight, and the reason for the diversion remains unclear.
Series of bomb threats across Europe
The incidents follow a wave of suspected bomb threats targeting European flights in recent days. On Tuesday, seven planes were searched after threats, including two departing from the UK — one from Manchester to Murcia, Spain, and another from London Heathrow to Warsaw, Poland. Two Ryanair flights, from Dublin and Lisbon to Rome, were also searched after anonymous tips. No explosives were found on any of the aircraft.
Authorities respond
The UK government described the threats as "malicious hoax threats." Police bomb disposal experts carried out standard security protocols at each airport, and all alerts were subsequently cleared.
