Bomb threats hit at least 25 European flights, trigger fighter escorts

At least 25 passenger flights were targeted by bomb threats across Europe on November 5, 2026, according to Reuters, prompting fighter escorts in France, Italy and Bulgaria, three diversions, and security inspections at airports across the continent.

The alerts affected flights operated by Aer Lingus, Finnair, Ryanair, Wizz Air and LOT Polish Airlines. Searches completed by late morning in Rome, Prague and Brussels found no explosives, while checks were still underway elsewhere. 

The incidents came two days after a similar series of threats against Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT and SAS flights on November 3, 2026, when searches also found no explosives. Authorities have not publicly identified those responsible or established whether the incidents are connected. 

French and Italian fighters escort threatened airliners 

An Aer Lingus Airbus A320 flying from Dublin Airport (DUB) to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) was diverted to Évreux-Fauville Air Base (EVX) in Normandy following a bomb threat, the office of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said. 

Flight EI402 landed shortly after 10:00 local time, according to Flightradar24 data. Its 151 passengers and six crew members were moved to safety while military bomb-disposal specialists examined the aircraft. 

The French Air and Space Force said it had dispatched aircraft to intercept and escort the airliner following the alert. Aer Lingus confirmed that the flight had landed safely after diverting as a security precaution. 

In Italy, two Italian Air Force Eurofighters escorted Finnair flight AY1761 from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) to Rome Fiumicino. The Airbus A321 landed at its scheduled destination, where security personnel inspected the aircraft. 

Finnair Communications Manager Stiina Tuunanen told Finnish public broadcaster Yle that they found nothing unusual on board. Airport operator Aeroporti di Roma also confirmed the checks were negative and did not disrupt normal airport operations. 

Meanwhile, no aircraft have departed from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in the past 30 minutes.

The reason for the disruption is currently unknown. https://t.co/XVIgI6R1Pa— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 5, 2026

Wizz Air and Ryanair flights diverted to Austria and Bulgaria 

Wizz Air flight W4 6387, operating from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), diverted to Vienna International Airport (VIE) after receiving a bomb threat during the flight. 

The airline confirmed that the diversion followed established security procedures and said it was cooperating with the authorities. 

A second flight arriving in Vienna, Finnair AY1471 from Helsinki, was also targeted. Finnair confirmed that both AY1471 and the Rome-bound AY1761 received threats that proved unfounded. Both aircraft landed safely, and their passengers disembarked. 

In Bulgaria, three Ryanair flights bound for Sofia were affected. 

Flights FR3606 from Copenhagen Airport (CPH) and FR6410 from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) landed at Vasil Levski Sofia Airport (SOF), while flight FR1730 from London Stansted Airport (STN) diverted to Plovdiv Airport (PDV). 

Plovdiv Airport CEO Krassimir Peshev confirmed the diversion of the London flight, according to the Bulgarian News Agency. The three aircraft landed safely. 

Four aircraft searched in Prague, with further alerts in Brussels and Bucharest 

Czech police reported threats against four aircraft approaching Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG). 

Although police assessed the threats as low-credibility, bomb-disposal teams inspected all four aircraft after landing. The searches found no explosives, and airport operations were not restricted. 

The investigation was subsequently handed to the Czech police’s National Center Against Terrorism, Extremism, and Cybercrime. 

In Belgium, LOT Polish Airlines flight LO235 from Warsaw to Brussels Airport (BRU) was also targeted. The airline said the crew conducted an onboard inspection after being informed of a potential threat, finding nothing suspicious. 

A second inspection by Belgian authorities after the aircraft landed also found no dangerous items. 

Romania reported another incident involving Wizz Air flight W43064 from Milan Malpensa to Bucharest. 

The aircraft landed safely at Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) at approximately 11:09 local time, carrying 182 passengers and seven crew members. 

According to Romania’s intelligence service (SRI), the crew notified air traffic control of a bomb threat. An airport crisis team was activated; passengers and crew were taken into the terminal, and bomb-disposal specialists began checking the aircraft. 

Separately, Copenhagen Police responded to reports of suspicious circumstances involving two aircraft that arrived at Copenhagen Airport. Military explosive ordnance disposal specialists were deployed, but authorities said no suspicious items were found, and airport operations continued normally. Police did not specify whether the Copenhagen incidents involved explicit bomb threats. 

November 05, 2026, 13:58 (UTC +3)

Further bomb threats reported in Poland, Italy and Austria

Further reports brought the number of flights affected by bomb threats across Europe on November 5, 2026, to at least 16.

In Poland, LOT Polish Airlines flight LO331 from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) was stopped while taxiing after authorities received a warning about a potentially dangerous object on board.

The aircraft was moved to a designated parking area for inspection, and one runway at Warsaw Chopin was temporarily closed. LOT spokesperson Krzysztof Moczulski said no dangerous items were found and passengers would continue their journey on a replacement aircraft. The airport subsequently resumed normal operations.

Two further alerts affected aircraft arriving at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). According to Italian news agency ANSA, Aegean Airlines flight A3552 from Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) landed at 09:33 local time, followed by Ryanair flight FR8953 from Porto Airport (OPO) at 10:22.

Both aircraft reached Milan without diverting. Police bomb-disposal specialists were deployed to inspect the aircraft, passengers and crew.

Separately, Austrian police confirmed that Vienna International Airport (VIE) had received threatening emails concerning four flights scheduled to arrive or depart. The messages arrived at approximately 08:50 local time and were assessed as presenting a non-specific threat. Authorities implemented security procedures without disrupting airport operations. The four flights were not publicly identified.

Bulgarian MiG-29 fighters scrambled to escort Ryanair flights

Bulgarian MiG-29 fighters were scrambled from Graf Ignatievo Air Base on November 5, 2026, to escort three Ryanair flights following bomb threats. (Credit: U.S. Air Force photo)The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense also confirmed that MiG-29 fighters were scrambled from Graf Ignatievo Air Base at 10:11 local time to intercept and escort the three threatened Ryanair aircraft arriving from Madrid, Copenhagen and London Stansted.

The mission was conducted under NATO air policing procedures. Two Ryanair flights landed in Sofia, while the third diverted to Plovdiv.

Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry subsequently confirmed that inspections of all three aircraft found nothing suspicious. Airport operations in Sofia and Plovdiv returned to normal.

Romania’s intelligence service also confirmed that its inspection of the Wizz Air flight from Milan to Bucharest found no security threat.

November 05, 2026, 16:49 (UTC +3)
Bomb threats spread to more airlines as EU activates security coordination

The number of affected flights continued to rise during the afternoon of November 5, 2026, with at least 25 passenger flights targeted across Europe.

In Spain, the Civil Guard said three threatening emails received within approximately 20 minutes concerned six flights: two Air Europa services departing Madrid for Paris and four Iberia flights arriving from Rome and Milan.

Iberia confirmed that two of its aircraft, flight IB668 from Milan Linate Airport (LIN) and flight IB658 from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), had been targeted. Both landed safely at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) at around 10:00 local time. Spanish authorities subsequently ruled out the threats.

Aegean Airlines also confirmed a second affected flight, A3860 from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Vienna International Airport (VIE), in addition to its previously reported Thessaloniki-Milan service. The airline said both threats were unfounded and the aircraft resumed operations after security checks.

In Romania, Air Serbia flight JU102 from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) to Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) was targeted. The aircraft landed safely at approximately 15:20 local time, and airport authorities said inspections found nothing to substantiate the threat.

Cork Airport (ORK) in Ireland also received an anonymous telephone threat concerning an unidentified flight. The airport said additional security measures were implemented with Irish police, but nothing suspicious was found. The flight resumed after a 90-minute delay.

In the United Kingdom, threats were also reported at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Birmingham Airport (BHX). British authorities assessed them as not credible, and operations at both airports continued normally.

European Commission activates aviation-security information sharing

EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas confirmed that an EU-level aviation-security information-sharing mechanism had been activated in response to the alerts.

The Commission is working with affected member states and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), while national authorities continue investigating the threats.

Tzitzikostas cautioned that it was too early to determine whether the incidents were connected.

No explosives have been reported in the completed aircraft searches, and authorities have not publicly established who was responsible for the threats.

An anonymous Italian-language email received at Terminal 3 of Rome Fiumicino Airport threatened the Aer Lingus and Finnair flights, according to Italian news agency Adnkronos. The message was signed “Fighters of the Male State,” although the sender’s identity has not been verified.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.The post Bomb threats hit at least 25 European flights, trigger fighter escorts appeared first on AeroTime.

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