By Fatma Younis
A wave of bomb threats targeted flights across Europe on Thursday, marking the second day this week that hoaxes have caused widespread travel disruption. Authorities have not linked the incidents or attributed blame, and no explosive devices have been found on any aircraft.
Thursday's Incidents
More than 10 flights were affected on Thursday, with some landing at their destinations and others diverted. An Aer Lingus Airbus A320 flying from Dublin to Rome landed safely at Évreux military air base, 100 km west of Paris, as a security precaution. A Polish LOT airliner was forced to land at Brussels' Zaventem airport after a security warning; no suspicious items were found. Finnair reported two flights from Helsinki to Rome and Vienna faced unfounded bomb threats. Four unidentified flights landed in Prague after receiving threats, and Bulgarian officials said three planes made emergency landings, including a flight from London that landed in Plovdiv.
Earlier Week Disruptions
The Thursday alerts follow a series of hoaxes on Tuesday that affected at least seven flights, forcing several diversions and the temporary closure of Warsaw-Modlin airport in Poland. Those threats targeted flights from London, Manchester, Copenhagen, Israel, Dublin, Bergamo, and Lisbon. On Monday, a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Bulgaria was diverted to Budapest after a mid-air bomb threat. The UK government described the Tuesday threats against flights departing Britain as "malicious hoax threats."
Passenger Rights Advice
Bomb hoaxes are likely to be classified as extraordinary circumstances by airlines, meaning passengers are unlikely to receive compensation under UK law if their flight is disrupted. However, airlines must still provide care, including food, drink vouchers, and accommodation if necessary, or allow passengers to claim reimbursement later.
