Bomb threats disrupt at least 25 European flights in a coordinated wave

At least 25 commercial flights across Europe faced bomb threats on Thursday, marking a sharp escalation in disruptions that affected thousands of passengers and prompted emergency responses from military and security forces. The incidents follow a similar batch of threats earlier in the week that targeted about seven other flights. While numerous aircraft were diverted, escorted by fighter jets, or subjected to thorough searches upon landing, aviation authorities and government officials confirmed that all threats appeared to be hoaxes and no explosives or suspicious devices were discovered.

The wave of alerts triggered widespread international reactions on Thursday. An Aer Lingus flight traveling from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a military base in western France after receiving a bomb threat, according to the office of French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu. The flight landed safely with 151 passengers and six crew members aboard, who subsequently deplaned while military bomb defusal teams inspected the aircraft. Irish Member of the European Parliament Barry Andrews pointed to the incident on social media, questioning regional security measures ahead of an upcoming European summit in Dublin.

Other major airlines were similarly disrupted. A Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome was escorted into the Italian capital by a fighter jet, prompting Leonardo Da Vinci Airport to temporarily halt operations for thirty minutes. In Bulgaria, three Ryanair flights bound for Sofia made emergency landings after indications of potential danger, with departures from Madrid and Copenhagen touching down in the capital while a flight from London Stansted diverted to Plovdiv. Additional affected carriers included Polish Airlines LOT, Wizz Air, Aegean Airlines, and easyJet, with various flights landing safely in destinations such as Brussels, Vienna, Warsaw, and Milan.

Air transport security experts noted that the scale and coordinated nature of the alerts were highly unusual. Paul Mason, an aviation security specialist, told the BBC that the threats were delivered in a credible manner across a broad range of airlines, suggesting a very deliberate act rather than isolated coincidental calls. Although British authorities previously dismissed threats earlier in the week as hoaxes and praised the resilience of the aviation security framework, Thursday's surge raised growing concerns among officials regarding potential efforts to disrupt continental travel.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the majority of the threats, and security officials have not formally assigned blame. However, one hoax threat directed at an Italian airport reportedly claimed affiliation with the Fighters of the Male State, a banned Russian anti-feminist group. European capitals have increasingly expressed alarm over rising hybrid warfare tactics, noting potential links to state actors such as Russia and Iran. Security agencies across Europe have warned of evolving threats targeting civilian infrastructure, businesses, and transport networks, though investigations into the origin of Thursday's aviation alerts remain ongoing.