Bomb Threats Trigger Europe's Airport Security Machine

At least seven flights and a cruise ship in Europe received bomb threats on Tuesday, November 3, triggering diversions, evacuations, searches and airport disruption. Authorities reported finding no explosives on the affected planes. The count varied: FRANCE 24 and Euronews described four targeted flights, while The Standard reported six flights and seven international flights forced to evacuate. The machinery of emergency response moved across airports and borders; responsibility for the threats remained unknown.

Alerts, diversions and searches

A LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 737 MAX carrying 181 people from London Heathrow was diverted from Warsaw Chopin to Warsaw Modlin after an alert about a possible explosive device at 9:54 a.m. The plane landed at 10:01 a.m. with 3.7 tonnes of fuel in its tanks, according to a statement attributed by ITV to Kowalski, Head of airport. LOT said a security inspection found no suspicious items. Passengers were transferred by coach to Warsaw Chopin after border-control checks.

Modlin closed while the aircraft was searched, then reopened. Spokesman Adam Szablowski told AFP: “The passengers were evacuated and the plane underwent security checks. Nothing was found.” He said: “The airport has been reopened and is operating normally.” ITV reported the alert had been completely lifted, all areas were open and the airport was fully operational. The Standard, however, said some areas remained closed pending further notice and passengers and crew were waiting in arrival halls.

An SAS flight from Copenhagen, SK751, landed as scheduled at Warsaw Chopin. Scandinavian Airlines confirmed “a threat has been made against flight SK751 between Copenhagen and Warsaw” and said: “The aircraft landed normally in Warsaw and the passengers have disembarked.” Chopin closed one runway during inspection. No device was found, and the airport remained operational.

In Bulgaria, flights from Bergamo and Dublin to Sofia landed safely, and inspections found no explosives, the transport ministry said in a statement to Reuters. The Wizz Air flight carried 176 passengers; the Ryanair flight had 186. Bulgarian transport minister Georgi Peev said the Dublin flight wasn't diverted and no explosives were found. Bulgarian media initially reported the Bergamo plane had flown from Israel; authorities later said that wasn't the case. The Irish Times separately reported a plane from Israel landed in Sofia after an email threat, citing BTA and interior ministry secretary general Lyubomir Nikolov.

Emergency powers in motion

A Ryanair flight from Manchester to Murcia prompted an emergency response after a threat was reported before landing. Francisco Lucas, a Government Delegate in Murcia, said 114 passengers and seven crew members had disembarked for security checks while the aircraft was inspected. He later wrote: “The [Guardia Civil] has ruled out the presence of explosives on the plane from Manchester following its inspection,” and said the airport had resumed normal activity. Aena said it had activated an emergency protocol “due to a bomb alert.” Spain's Civil Guard checked the aircraft and stood down the emergency plan; officials said the report proved to be a hoax.

At Rome's Fiumicino airport, two Ryanair flights, one from Lisbon and one from Dublin, were searched after threats. FRANCE 24 said the Dublin flight was escorted by Italian Air Force jets and landed at 10:45 a.m. Police bomb-disposal experts checked passengers, luggage and aircraft, with negative results. Rome Airport said the jets were scrambled for the Dublin flight; the alert was lifted and ADR's source said other flights weren't affected.

A separate threat targeted the Panama-flagged Crown Iris, bound for Israel. An explosives-detection dog and a diver searched the ship at the Greek island of Syros. Initial checks found no device; coast guard specialists were expected to carry out further inspections before the ship could resume its voyage.

No attribution, but more state response

A Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia had been diverted to Budapest on Monday after a threat received during the flight. It landed safely after a Hungarian fighter jet escorted it. Wizz Air said authorities checked the aircraft and passengers and found nothing. Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said NATO's air-defence alert service raised the alarm and Hungarian Defence Forces' Gripen fighter jets “took to the air within minutes and ensured the safe landing of the passenger aircraft in Budapest.”

No one claimed responsibility, officials didn't attribute blame, and none of the affected airlines responded to Reuters' requests for comment. Reuters reported European officials had blamed Russia and Iran for what they describe as “hybrid attacks” and acts of sabotage; Moscow and Tehran deny any such campaign. Rhys Jones of Osprey Flight Solutions said seven confirmed threats in one day was exceptional and that the aim appeared to be general disruption. Matthew Borie said possible explanations included copycat incidents, one person or group making multiple threats, or “hybrid warfare” by state actors or supporters. He also cautioned that “there could be a Russian angle,” while adding that “Iranian hybrid warfare is just as active in certain pockets of Europe as well.” None of those possibilities amounted to an official attribution.