Bomb threats hit ten European flights

Travelers at two Polish airports faced delays and diversions on Tuesday after bomb threats targeted at least ten European flights. The coordinated warnings forced the temporary closure of Warsaw Chopin and Warsaw Modlin airports. All affected aircraft landed safely, and ground crews found no explosives during subsequent searches.

The disruption centered on Warsaw, where Scandinavian Airlines flight SK751 from Copenhagen and a LOT flight from London Heathrow were both targeted. Chopin airport closed one runway to inspect the SAS jet. Authorities diverted the LOT Boeing 737 MAX to Modlin, shutting that facility down until checks were complete. Adam Szablowski, a Modlin spokesman, confirmed nothing was found on the diverted plane.

Irish carrier Ryanair faced the highest volume of threats. London Metropolitan Police said they received warnings against four Ryanair aircraft due to depart from or arrive at Heathrow. A separate warning was issued for a flight at Manchester Airport. Police stated that checks identified no security issues. Ryanair also warned of threats on routes from Lisbon to Rome, Dublin to Rome, and Dublin to Sofia.

In Rome, Italian air force jets scrambled to escort Ryanair flight FR9611 from Dublin. The plane landed at Rome-Fiumicino at 10:45 am local time. Earlier that morning, anti-bomb procedures were activated for another Ryanair arrival. Rome Airport officials noted that passenger, luggage, and plane checks were negative, lifting the alert. In southeastern Spain, the operator Aena confirmed an emergency protocol for a Ryanair jet from Manchester that landed in Murcia at 10:30 am.

Bulgarian authorities also responded to a threat. A Wizz Air flight from Italy’s Bergamo airport was inspected after landing in Sofia at 9:10 am. This followed a Monday incident where a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest after a bomb threat. Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said Gripen fighter jets intercepted the Monday flight to ensure a safe landing.

Matthew Borie, co-founder of Osprey Flight Solutions, suggested several possible causes for the incidents. He listed copycat threats, a single group acting repeatedly, or state-sponsored hybrid warfare. Borie noted that geopolitical tensions and recent disruptions, such as drone incursions, could indicate a Russian or Iranian angle. He advised travelers not to be alarmed, citing established coordinated response mechanisms by national authorities and NATO.