A series of hoax bomb threats has disrupted European air travel and media organizations throughout the past week, forcing emergency landings and temporary evacuations. While authorities have confirmed no explosives were found on any of the targeted flights or at newsrooms, the incidents have triggered significant security responses across multiple countries.
When did the wave of threats begin?
The disruptions began on Tuesday, when at least seven flights and a cruise ship received hoax bomb threats. These alerts triggered a variety of emergency protocols, including unscheduled landings, the deployment of fighter jet escorts, and temporary airport closures in nations such as Poland, Bulgaria, Italy, and Spain. A second, larger wave occurred on Thursday, affecting at least 27 flights. By Friday, the scope of the threats continued to expand, impacting at least 18 additional flights to or from countries including Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Romania and the UK.
How are newsrooms managing security alerts?
On Friday, the focus of the threats shifted to include media organizations. Irish broadcaster RTÉ and Bulgaria’s NOVA TV received emailed threats, with one message sent to several European outlets warning of further attacks on transport across Europe and reportedly stating: “This is only the beginning.” RTÉ was forced to evacuate its offices and suspend programming, while the British broadcaster Sky also confirmed receiving a security threat. The Irish Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, stated that such threats must be taken seriously as they serve to sow fear and anxiety within society, adding that European security agencies would seek to identify those responsible and hold them accountable.
Which airlines and airports are affected?
The threats have touched a wide array of carriers and hubs across the continent. Airlines including Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Wizz Air and Iberia have all been subject to security sweeps or diversions. At Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport, at least nine flights to and from the city were affected on Friday, while Hungary’s defense minister, noted that fighter jets were scrambled three times to escort civilian aircraft through the country’s airspace within an hour. Despite the volume of alerts, Eurocontrol reported that the disruptions affected only a tiny fraction—just 0.0674%—of the 26,709 flights scheduled in Europe on Friday.
Who is claiming responsibility for the hoaxes?
Authorities have not attributed the threats to any specific group or state actor, though the incidents have fueled concerns regarding “hybrid” operations. Some emails sent to Italian airport operators purported to come from the “Fighters of the Male State,” a far-right anti-feminist movement banned in Russia. However, Vladislav Pozdnyakov, the Russian blogger who set up the group in 2016, stated that the organization no longer exists and is not involved in any way. Reuters could not confirm who had sent the emails.
How do security teams respond to anonymous threats?
When a threat is received, airlines must take it seriously because they are ultimately responsible for the lives of their passengers. Crews are prepared to respond professionally, and aircraft may be diverted to airports where they could land safely and carry extra fuel if needed. Experts like Philip Baum, professor of aviation security at the University of Coventry, noted that the industry “faces multiple bomb threats every single day,” and the challenge lies in distinguishing between credible dangers and false threats to avoid overreacting to every message received online.
investigating potential links between flight and newsroom threats
Are the bomb threats against flights and newsrooms confirmed to be linked?
It remains unclear if the incidents are connected. Authorities are still investigating the origins of the emails and have not established a definitive link between the threats targeting airlines and those sent to media organizations.
What happens to passengers when a flight receives a bomb threat?
Passengers are typically diverted to an airport where security teams and bomb disposal experts perform inspections of the aircraft and luggage. This process often causes significant delays and potential cancellations, though all flights targeted this week landed safely.
Are these threats considered a new trend in European security?
While airlines are accustomed to dealing with isolated bomb threats, aviation security experts describe the apparent coordination and timing of the current incidents as unusual. European technology commissioner Henna Virkkunen has noted that since 2022, Europe has faced a range of hybrid operations, including sabotage of critical infrastructure, drone incursions, cyber breaches and election interference.
More on Europe
Keep reading