Multiple planes diverted as bomb threats to commercial flights reported

A wave of bomb threats affected 15 commercial flights across Europe on 5 November, prompting diversions, security inspections and delays. The aircraft included Ryanair flights to Bulgaria, Prague and Milan; Wizz Air flights from Milan to Warsaw and Bucharest; two Finnair flights; a LOT Polish Airlines flight to Brussels; and flights operated by Aer Lingus, Aegean Airlines and Ryanair heading to Rome or Milan. The Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a military air base in Evreux, France, while a Ryanair flight from London to Sofia landed instead in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. A Wizz Air flight bound for Warsaw diverted to Vienna.

Authorities reported no explosives or suspicious items on several affected aircraft. Checks in Prague, Rome and Bulgaria found no threat, and Romanian intelligence cleared the Wizz Air flight to Bucharest. Finnair described threats to two of its planes as unfounded or hoaxes; LOT also reported no suspicious items. The threats nonetheless led to precautionary procedures and passenger disruption, including onward transport for travelers diverted to Plovdiv. Italian police sources said warnings against the Dublin-Rome and Helsinki-Rome flights came in an anonymous email written in Italian and sent to Rome airport’s operator and affiliated companies. Investigations continued, including a Czech police counter-terrorism and cybercrime unit inquiry.