Mid-air chaos: Multiple flights in Europe diverted due to bomb threats

Bomb threats have forced at least 12 passenger aircraft to divert or make precautionary landings across Europe on Thursday, triggering security checks at airports in multiple countries for the second time in a week.

An Aer Lingus flight, EI402, travelling from Dublin to Rome landed safely at Evreux airport in France, about 100 km west of Paris, after being diverted as a security precaution, the Irish airline said in a statement. A Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome was escorted by Italian Air Force fighter jets before landing safely at Rome Fiumicino Airport. Italian police subsequently carried out security checks on the aircraft, but found no explosives, according to the airport authorities.

In Belgium, a flight operated by Polish airline LOT landed at Brussels' Zaventem airport following a security alert. The airline later said that no dangerous or suspicious items had been found on board. Bulgaria also reported three aircraft making emergency landings following bomb threats. Two flights, originating from Copenhagen and Madrid, landed in Sofia, while a third aircraft travelling from London landed in Plovdiv, according to local media.

In the Czech Republic, police said four aircraft heading to Prague had received threats involving the possible presence of improvised explosive devices. Authorities assessed the threats as low risk but said all necessary security measures had been activated and inspections would be carried out after landing. Separately, nearly 200 passengers were evacuated from a Wizz Air flight travelling from Milan to Bucharest after it received a bomb threat. The aircraft landed safely at Henri Coanda International Airport, where Romanian authorities initiated security procedures and deployed an explosives disposal team to inspect it.

The latest incidents come two days after at least seven flights and a cruise ship received bomb threats, disrupting operations at airports across Europe. No explosive devices were found following Tuesday's alerts. Although no country has attributed responsibility for the threats, the incidents come amid growing concerns among European officials over what they describe as hybrid attacks and sabotage operations linked to Russia and Iran. This week, unidentified hackers also disrupted refrigeration systems at supermarkets in several European countries and French blood banks, causing temperatures in fridges and freezers to rise. Some experts have suggested that hoax bomb threats could form part of a broader pattern of low-cost, difficult-to-trace disruption operations.