A series of bomb threats targeting passenger aircraft prompted emergency landings, flight diversions and heightened security checks on Tuesday, as authorities in several countries responded to reports of possible explosives on board.
According to the BBC, at least four aircraft were involved in incidents in Poland, Spain, Italy and Bulgaria, prompting security operations to protect passengers and crew.
LOT flight diverted to alternative Warsaw airport
One incident involved a LOT aircraft travelling from London Heathrow to Warsaw. The plane was diverted to Warsaw-Modlin Airport instead of its scheduled destination, Warsaw Chopin Airport.
There were 181 people on board.
Flight-tracking service Flightradar showed the aircraft making a sharp change of direction as it approached Warsaw before heading towards the alternative airport.
Warsaw-Modlin Airport announced that it had reopened, although security services continued inspecting the aircraft. Passengers and crew remained in the arrivals area, while some sections of the airport were still closed.
Ryanair flight makes emergency landing in Spain
A Ryanair flight travelling from Manchester to Murcia, in southern Spain, also received a bomb threat and made an emergency landing. There were 121 people on board, including crew members.
Francisco Lucas, the Spanish government’s representative in the region, said the Civil Guard had completed its inspection and ruled out the presence of explosives.
In a post on X, he said the airport was gradually returning to normal operations and thanked the emergency teams involved.
Two Ryanair flights checked in Rome
In Italy, two Ryanair flights, one from Lisbon and another from Dublin, underwent security checks at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport following anonymous reports of a possible bomb.
Airport sources told the BBC that police bomb disposal experts carried out the required inspections of the aircraft, luggage and passengers. No suspicious items were found and the security alert was lifted.
The Dublin flight, FR9611, was escorted by an Italian fighter jet until it landed.
Bomb threat reported on flight to Sofia
Meanwhile, Bulgarian media reported that an aircraft travelling from Israel landed at Sofia Airport after a bomb threat was sent by email.
A separate threat was also reported involving a flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw Chopin Airport. The aircraft landed normally, according to Danish media reports.
Wizz Air flight diverted to Budapest a day earlier
The latest incidents came a day after a Wizz Air aircraft was forced to land in Budapest following a bomb threat during a flight from London to Sofia.
The plane had departed from London Luton Airport and was heading to the Bulgarian capital when it was diverted to Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport. It was escorted by a Hungarian fighter jet during the flight.
A Wizz Air spokesperson said the relevant authorities carried out the necessary checks on the aircraft and passengers, with no suspicious items found.
Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendis confirmed that the country had deployed a fighter jet to escort the flight.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the incidents and carry out investigations.
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