By Sohaib Shams
A wave of hoax bomb threats targeted European airlines and airports on Thursday, forcing diversions and fighter jet escorts before proving false, authorities said.
Coordinated threats across Europe
The warnings arrived in rapid succession, affecting multiple carriers and airports. In nearly all cases, including incidents in Italy where fighter jets were scrambled, the threats were deemed credible enough to divert aircraft. London's Heathrow airport was a notable exception where the threat was not acted upon.
Suspicion falls on Russia
The simultaneous, coordinated nature of the hoaxes, combined with recent malicious actions across Europe, has led some observers to suspect Russian involvement. Earlier this year, cyber-attacks and mysterious drone sightings over sensitive sites were reported. In recent days, remote hacking of supermarket freezers and a blood bank occurred, alongside a suspicious incident on Poland's border with Russia. In August, a drone attack on Germany's Leipzig Halle airport was publicly blamed on Moscow by the German interior minister.
Hybrid warfare tactics
Analysts argue the pattern fits "hybrid," "grey zone," or "sub-threshold" warfare — actions that damage infrastructure but remain anonymous, deniable, and below the threshold triggering NATO's Article 5. Moscow is angered by NATO support for Ukraine, and Russian bloggers have suggested Western nations should feel similar pain to Russian airports affected by Ukrainian drones and sanctions blocking Russian airlines from European airspace.
Lack of hard evidence
As of Thursday evening, no concrete evidence linked the airline hoaxes to Russia, Iran, or their proxy groups. An email threat sent to Rome airport authorities claimed to be from "Fighters of the Male State," likely referencing the Russian ultra-right group Muzhskoi Legion, banned in 2021 but still active online. However, the email's authenticity is uncertain and unlikely to provide actionable leads.
Investigation challenges
Police, airport authorities, and transport ministries face the task of following cold, hard leads rather than assumptions about likely culprits to mitigate future disruptions.
