European aviation: Bomb threats halt flights

Air traffic across Europe faced a series of disruptions on Tuesday as approximately ten flights received bomb threats. The warnings forced a temporary closure of a Warsaw airport and required Italian air force jets to escort a landing plane. Authorities confirmed that no explosives were found during extensive searches of the targeted aircraft.

Irish carrier Ryanair faced the most warnings, with four of its services targeted. London's Metropolitan Police stated they were aware of threats against four aircraft involving Heathrow Airport and one at Manchester Airport. Checks at both locations found no security issues. The police noted that the flights departed or arrived safely.

In Poland, two flights bound for Warsaw were targeted. An SAS flight from Copenhagen and a LOT flight from Heathrow both faced alerts. Warsaw's Chopin airport closed one runway to inspect the SAS aircraft. The LOT flight was diverted to the nearby Modlin airport. Authorities closed Modlin for the check, and spokesman Adam Szablowski told AFP that nothing was found.

Spain also activated emergency protocols. Aena, the airport operator, confirmed a bomb alert on a Ryanair flight from Manchester. The plane landed in Murcia at 10:30 am local time. In Italy, fighter jets escorted a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Rome-Fiumicino. The aircraft landed at 10:45 am. A previous Ryanair arrival at 9:40 am also underwent anti-bomb procedures. The airport stated that checks on passengers and luggage were negative.

A Wizz Air flight from Italy to Bulgaria was inspected after landing in Sofia. This incident followed a similar event on Monday, when a Wizz Air flight from London was diverted to Budapest. Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi wrote on Facebook that NATO issued an alert for that flight. He said Gripen fighter jets took to the air within minutes to ensure a safe landing.

Matthew Borie, co-founder of Osprey Flight Solutions, suggested several explanations for the wave of threats. He listed a single threat causing copycat cases, a group making multiple warnings, or hybrid warfare by state actors. Borie noted that these threats are not new and occur during heightened geopolitical tensions. He pointed to recent drone incursions and attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems as part of the same pattern.

Borie said the focus on Europe suggests a possible Russian angle, though he noted Iranian hybrid warfare is also active. He advised travelers not to be alarmed, citing coordinated response mechanisms by national authorities. These responses sometimes include NATO fighter jets escorting threatened planes.