Five European Flights Diverted or Escorted Following Bomb Threats
An Aer Lingus plane landed in France while other aircraft from Bulgaria, Italy, and Belgium also reported alerts.
By Talia Bennett ·
Five flights across Europe faced bomb threats on Thursday, forcing some planes to change course or land early. The incidents required military involvement in several cases. One aircraft was diverted to a military base, while others received escort or landed in different cities than planned.
The Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome declared an in-flight emergency. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office confirmed the plane landed safely at the Evreux military airbase in Normandy. All 151 passengers and six crew members are safe. Military bomb defusal teams are currently examining the aircraft. Flight-tracking data shows the plane turned sharply away from its path toward Paris and looped before heading to Evreux.
Bulgaria reported three additional emergency landings shortly after the Aer Lingus incident. Local media cited officials saying planes from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia. A third aircraft, originating from London, landed in Plovdiv. The Bulgarian interior minister confirmed the details to broadcaster bTV.
Italian airforce units escorted a Finnair plane from Helsinki to Rome after it received a bomb alert. The Italian news agency Ansa reported that the aircraft arrived safely in the capital. In Belgium, local media reported that a LOT Polish Airlines aircraft was forced to land at Brussels’ Zaventem airport.
These events follow a string of similar alerts over the past few days. At least seven flights, including two from the UK, were affected by bomb threats earlier this week. Those incidents caused unplanned landings and temporary airport closures. A UK government spokesperson stated at the time that the country was well-prepared for what they described as malicious hoax threats.
It is not yet known who issued the threats. Matthew Borie of Osprey Flight Solutions, a firm that advises airlines on flight threats, suggested a possible Russian angle due to the focus on Europe. He also noted that Iranian hybrid warfare remains active in certain parts of the continent. More details are expected as investigations continue.
