By Salma El-Sakka
Bomb threats targeting flights across Europe on Thursday forced multiple emergency landings and diversions, marking the second wave of hoaxes this week to cause significant travel disruption. Authorities have not established a confirmed link between the incidents, and no country has attributed blame. No explosive devices have been found on any of the affected flights.
Thursday's Incidents
More than 10 flights were reportedly affected on Thursday. An Aer Lingus Airbus A320 flying from Dublin to Rome diverted to Evreux military air base, 100 km west of Paris, as a security precaution. A Polish LOT airliner made an emergency landing at Brussels' Zaventem airport after a security warning; no suspicious items were found. Finnair reported unfounded bomb threats on two flights from Helsinki to Rome and Vienna. Four unidentified flights landed in Prague following bomb threats, and Bulgarian officials said three planes made emergency landings, including a flight from London that landed in Plovdiv. Two flights bound for Milan's Malpensa airport also received bomb alerts but landed safely.
Earlier Disruptions This Week
The Thursday incidents follow a series of bomb 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 departing 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.
Passenger Rights and Advice
Under UK law, bomb hoaxes are typically classified as extraordinary circumstances, meaning passengers are unlikely to receive compensation for disruptions. Airlines must provide care, including food, drink vouchers, and accommodation if necessary, for cancelled flights. Coverage applies to passengers departing from UK airports on any airline, arriving in the UK on an EU or UK carrier, or arriving in the EU on a UK airline.
