French Prosecutors Target Foreign Powers in European Flight Bomb Threat Investigation
European civil aviation faced a wave of disruptions after anonymous e-mails containing bomb threats targeted dozens of commercial flights, according to the office of the Paris public prosecutor. French investigators are working to identify the authors of the messages and determine whether they maintain links with foreign powers, BFMTV reported, noting that the threats suggested imminent danger to aircraft.
The threats forced dozens of aircraft to divert, undergo emergency evacuations, receive fighter jet escorts, and undergo exhaustive police searches. No explosives have been found during any of the inspections.
Timeline of Incidents Across European Airspace
The disruption began on a Monday with a Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia making an emergency landing in Budapest, according to reports compiled by Aktuálně.cz. The volume of alerts escalated sharply through Tuesday and Thursday, affecting more than 30 civil flights by Thursday.
On Thursday, at least five flights received military jet escorts, according to Aktuálně.cz. Bulgarian fighter jets intercepted three Ryanair flights heading to Sofia from Madrid, Copenhagen, and London, while French fighter jets escorted an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome that ultimately landed at the Évreux military base west of Paris.
Operations continued to face disruptions on Friday, when 11 additional threats targeted European flights. Seznam Zprávy reported that Ireland’s national television station RTÉ, Newstalk, and the Irish Independent evacuated offices due to security checks, while RTÉ broadcasts were replaced with music and recorded messages for up to three hours. RTÉ also traced an incoming threat to an address associated with a school in Lithuania, though authorities have not independently confirmed the sender’s true identity.
Impact on Prague and International Airports
Václav Havel Airport in Prague recorded nine affected flights during Friday alone, comprising four arrivals and five departures, airport spokesperson Denisa Hejtmánková told ČTK. Police pyrotechnics teams inspected the targeted aircraft on the tarmac after passengers disembarked under normal operating procedures.
🚨 BOMB THREATS HIT 16 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THIS WEEK. HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED TO EACH: 🇮🇪 Ireland — RTÉ and Newstalk EVACUATED, RTÉ shows replaced by music and a recorded message for up to 3 hours 🇬🇧 UK — Sky got a security threat; 4 planes at Heathrow THREATENED, Birmingham airport… pic.twitter.com/5AFSaZ3EZF
Similar security protocols played out across the continent. Four planes faced threats at Heathrow, while Birmingham airport also received alerts, according to social media tracking cited by Seznam Zprávy. Airports in Rome and Sofia received messages containing misogynistic statements and demands, with senders signing off under names including “Male State” and “Men’s State,” as reported by AFP.
Emails sent to European newsrooms link threats to banned movement
The e-mails sent to European newsrooms carried the subject line “MESSAGE TO THE WEST” and were signed by “Michail Andropov,” claiming responsibility for previous threats against civil aviation, according to Seznam Zprávy. Messages viewed by AFP referenced “Male State,” a movement founded in 2016 by Vladislav Pozdňakov on the VKontakte social network, which a Russian court banned and labeled extremist in October 2021.
Pozdňakov told Reuters that the movement no longer exists and bears no connection to the threats, stating that anyone organizing provocations under that brand inside the European Union is acting independently. Meanwhile, a study by the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism noted that supporters have continued organizing on Telegram under the name “Male Legion” and supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine, though authorities have not established a formal link between the group and the aviation threats.
José Manuel Albares described the incidents as a potential instance of hybrid aggression and psychological warfare, according to Aktuálně.cz. Soren Sorensen of the Danish Defence Academy noted that diverting a flight can cost millions while sending a threat e-mail costs virtually nothing.
If Russia is not behind the recent wave of mass bomb threats targeting aircraft, the pattern of events fits perfectly into the Kremlin’s playbook of escalation. Over the past few weeks, Russia’s shadow war against Europe has visibly intensified. Moscow’s objectives remain… pic.twitter.com/Wu5CMXS4UN
Frequently Asked Questions About the European Aviation Threats
Which airlines and routes were affected by the bomb threats?
The coordinated campaign impacted multiple carriers, including Wizz Air flights from London to Sofia, Ryanair flights from Madrid, Copenhagen, and London, and an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome that was diverted to Évreux military base.
Were any explosives discovered during the airport searches?
No explosives were found on any of the inspected aircraft after police and pyrotechnic teams conducted thorough searches following emergency landings and diversions across European airports.
What signatures were used on the threat messages sent to European media?
Messages sent to news outlets in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France carried the subject line “MESSAGE TO THE WEST,” were signed by “Michail Andropov,” and in some cases referenced the banned extremist group “Male State.”
How many flights were affected at Prague’s airport?
Prague’s Václav Havel Airport recorded nine affected flights—four arrivals and five departures—which were cleared by police pyrotechnics on the tarmac after passenger evacuations.
What did European safety agencies report about the operational impact?
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) stated that while the risk of individual false threats was small, their growing number created an additional burden on the entire system.
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