By Islam El-Sakka
Hundreds of airline passengers in Europe had their flights diverted or given military escorts this week after a series of bomb threats that officials described as malicious hoaxes. The threats targeted more than a dozen flights amid rising tensions with Russia and warnings that it may be ramping up so-called hybrid attacks in Europe.
Threat assessment and pilot response
When a threat is received, assessors determine whether it is credible, partially credible or not credible, according to Joji Waites, director of flight safety, policy and regulation for the British Airline Pilots’ Association. If deemed credible, the flight crew is informed immediately and the captain makes all decisions guided by a safety checklist. On the ground, that means evacuation; in flight, the priority is to land as soon and as safely as possible. Airlines, airport operators and law enforcement follow guidelines from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the International Civil Aviation Organization, and crew training includes live situational exercises for locating explosives smuggled on board.
Costly diversions and inspections
Diverting a flight because of a bomb threat can cost up to $250,000, said aviation security expert Philip Baum, a visiting professor at Coventry University in England. Costs may be lower for short-haul flights where overnight delays are less likely. Airline employees are instructed to keep callers on the line and gather as much information as possible; many of this week’s threats arrived by email with sufficient detail to require aircraft inspections.
Potential intent to test defenses
The threats appear intended to sow chaos and uncertainty about the reliability of air traffic across Europe, said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. They could also test the response time and coordination among authorities in different countries, aiming to identify weaknesses for future attacks. Kirkegaard compared the campaign to a stress test of the system.
