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Bomb threats force landings across Europe

Bomb threats have forced unscheduled or high-alert landings across Europe, with reports of at least 12 targeted flights. No explosives had been found, and the source was not yet determined.

Image from Illustration: Bomb threats force unscheduled landings across EuropeIllustration

The story so far

On 3 November, four planes landed safely after bomb threats across Europe, including flights from London, Manchester, Copenhagen and Israel. A Ryanair flight from Manchester made an emergency landing in Murcia, Spain, while a LOT flight from London was diverted to Warsaw's Modlin airport. Ryanair flights from Lisbon and Dublin were escorted to Rome's Fiumicino after email threats. All turned out to be hoaxes, following a Wizz Air diversion to Budapest the day before.

On 5 November, an Aer Lingus Airbus A320 from Dublin to Rome declared an emergency over a bomb threat and was diverted to Evreux airbase in France. The French prime minister's office said it was monitoring the situation. The incident followed bomb threats on Tuesday against at least seven European flights and a cruise ship, with no devices discovered.

Bomb threats affected multiple flights across Europe on Thursday, with unscheduled or high-alert landings in France, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Czechia and Bulgaria. A Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw landed in Vienna, and Bulgaria reported three emergency landings. Czech police said four planes heading to Prague received threats they assessed as low credibility. Reports said at least 12 were targeted, while one report said at least 19. No explosives had been found, and the source was not yet determined.

Latest updates

4 updates · newest first
  1. 5 Nov
    New development

    Bomb threats force unscheduled landings across Europe

    Authorities in Austria, France, Italy, Belgium and Bulgaria reported unscheduled or high-alert landings after bomb threats on commercial flights. An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to Evreux airbase in France, and a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw landed in Vienna. Bulgaria reported three emergency landings, and Czech police said four planes heading to Prague received threats they assessed as low credibility.

    Al Jazeera ↗
  2. 5 Nov
    New development

    Bomb threats disrupt multiple European flights

    Bomb threats affected multiple flights across Europe on Thursday, with unscheduled or high-alert landings in France, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Czechia and Bulgaria. Reports said at least 12 were targeted, while one report said at least 19. An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to Evreux, France, and officials said all passengers and crew were safe. No explosives had been found, and the source was not yet determined.

    Politico Europe ↗ABC Australia ↗DW ↗
  3. 5 Nov
    New development

    Dublin to Rome flight diverted to France after bomb threat

    An Aer Lingus Airbus A320 flying from Dublin to Rome was diverted to Evreux airbase in France after declaring an emergency in the air over a bomb threat. The French prime minister's office said it was monitoring the situation. The incident followed bomb threats on Tuesday against at least seven European flights and a cruise ship, with no devices discovered.

    France 24 ↗DW ↗
  4. 3 Nov
    New development

    Bomb threats force landings across Europe, all turn out to be hoaxes

    Four planes landed safely after bomb threats across Europe, including flights from London, Manchester, Copenhagen and Israel, with no explosives found. A Ryanair flight from Manchester made an emergency landing in Murcia, Spain, while a LOT flight from London was diverted to Warsaw's Modlin airport. Ryanair flights from Lisbon and Dublin were escorted to Rome's Fiumicino after email threats. All turned out to be hoaxes, following a Wizz Air diversion to Budapest the day before.

    The Guardian ↗ABC News ↗

Key facts

Four planes landed safely after bomb threats across Europe on 3 November.Reported by The Guardian and ABC News
A Ryanair flight from Manchester made an emergency landing in Murcia, Spain.Reported by The Guardian and ABC News
A LOT flight from London was diverted to Warsaw's Modlin airport.Reported by The Guardian and ABC News
An Aer Lingus Airbus A320 from Dublin to Rome was diverted to Evreux, France.Reported by France 24, DW, Politico Europe, ABC Australia and Al Jazeera
Reports said at least 12 flights were targeted, while one said at least 19.Reported by Politico Europe, ABC Australia and DW
Czech police said four planes heading to Prague received low-credibility threats.Reported by Al Jazeera

What’s still unknown

How many flights were targeted on Thursday
What the source of the threats was
Whether the Thursday threats were connected to earlier hoaxes

All sources

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