Hoax bomb threats target seven flights across Europe

At least seven passenger flights bound for Warsaw, Rome, Sofia and Murcia received bomb threats on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The threats led to searches, one diversion and a temporary airport closure, but no explosives were found on any aircraft, Reuters Thomson Reuters Corporation ↘ 9.87% reported. The airlines involved were Polish carrier LOT, Scandinavian Airlines, Wizz Air and Ryanair ↘ 1.25%, and no one was hurt, according to the Associated Press. Nobody has claimed responsibility, and officials have not blamed anyone.apnews.com+1

Diversions, escorts and searches

A LOT flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw's Chopin airport was diverted to Warsaw-Modlin, which closed while the plane was searched. "The passengers were evacuated and the plane underwent security checks. Nothing was found," Modlin spokesman Adam Szablowski told AFP, as quoted by DW. Modlin said the alert was raised at 9:54 a.m. and called off at 12:21 p.m. The plane was carrying 181 people. An SAS flight from Copenhagen landed at Chopin as scheduled while one runway was closed. An SAS spokeswoman said "it was not an emergency landing".dw.com+2

At Rome's Fiumicino airport, two Ryanair flights, one from Lisbon and one from Dublin, were searched after emailed threats. The Italian Air Force escorted the Dublin flight until it landed. In Sofia, inspectors found nothing on a Wizz Air flight from Bergamo with 176 passengers or on a Ryanair flight from Dublin with 186 passengers, Bulgaria's transport ministry said. Earlier reports that a flight from Israel had been targeted turned out to be wrong. In Spain, the Guardia Civil found no explosives on a Ryanair plane from Manchester to Murcia that was carrying 114 passengers and seven crew.apnews.com+2

A pattern of false alarms

The threats came a day after a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest on Monday. Hungarian Gripen fighter jets escorted that plane, and nothing was found on board. Bulgarian officials said they were still trying to identify who sent the threats.apnews.com

Authorities have not said whether the threats are linked. A UK government spokesperson called them "malicious hoax threats" and said Britain has "one of the most robust aviation security systems in the world".telegraph.co.uk+1

The incidents come as European officials accuse Russia and Iran of "hybrid attacks." Both countries deny running any such campaign. "It does fit the narrative of Russian state actors who want to disturb Europe," said Eric Schouten, head of aviation security group Dyami.reuters.com