Bomb threats disrupt flights across Europe, no explosive devices found

In practice, a series of bomb threats against passenger flights throughout Europe has prompted emergency searches, briefly shut down an airport outside the Polish capital, Warsaw, and led the Italian Air Force to escort a Ryanair plane into Rome.

Key points

• In Italy, two Eurofighter jets escorted Ryanair Flight FR9611 from Dublin into Rome's Fiumicino Airport, where it landed at 10: 45am local time, the airport's operator remarked.
• Scandinavian Airlines Flight SK751 from Copenhagen landed without incident at Warsaw Chopin Airport.
• In Bulgaria, a Wizz Air flight from Bergamo, Italy, was inspected after landing in the country's capital, Sofia, a spokesperson for the Bulgarian Interior Ministry remarked.
• The airlines affected included Ryanair, Wizz Air, Scandinavian Airlines and the Polish carrier LOT.
• Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi remarked on Facebook that NATO's air-defence alert service had flagged the flight.

At least seven flights and an Israel-bound cruise ship were targeted, according to authorities. All of the planes landed safely, and searches discovered no explosives.

Meanwhile, the airlines affected included Ryanair, Wizz Air, Scandinavian Airlines and the Polish carrier LOT. Ryanair, the Irish budget carrier, appeared to be the hardest hit, with four of its flights to different destinations being targeted. No one asserted responsibility, and office-holders did not attribute blame.

For context, the incidents came a day after a plane headed for Bulgaria was diverted to Hungary after receiving a similar bomb threat while in the air. In Poland, two Warsaw-bound flights were targeted.

Scandinavian Airlines Flight SK751 from Copenhagen landed without incident at Warsaw Chopin Airport. It closed a runway while the plane was inspected.

"The passengers disembarked, the plane landed normally; it was not an emergency landing, " Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji, a spokesperson for the airline, informed the Polish news agency PAP. She remarked the matter has been referred to the Polish police.

Meanwhile, a LOT Polish Airlines flight from London's Heathrow. It was additionally due at Chopin, was diverted to the city's second airport, Warsaw Modlin, which was closed after the alert.

Meanwhile, the plane, a Boeing 737 Max, landed safely. "Nothing was found, " remarked Adam Szablowski, a spokesman for Modlin. Airport authorities stated normal operations afterwards resumed.

For context, the Italian Air Force remarked it had responded immediately to "a report of a suspected threat aboard a civilian aircraft".

In practice, an earlier Ryanair flight from Lisbon that landed at Fiumicino at 9: 40am was additionally subjected to anti-bomb procedures. Checks of passengers, luggage and the plane "were all negative and the alert was lifted, " the operator remarked.

In Spain, Aena, the national airport operator, remarked it had activated an emergency protocol "due to a bomb alert" on a Ryanair flight from Manchester. The plane landed in Murcia at 10: 30am without incident.

In Bulgaria, a Wizz Air flight from Bergamo, Italy, was inspected after landing in the country's capital, Sofia, a spokesperson for the Bulgarian Interior Ministry remarked. A Ryanair flight from Dublin to Sofia was additionally targeted, the country's transport ministry stated. No explosives were discovered on either plane.

For context, the threats followed a similar episode on Monday, exwhen a Wizz Air flight from London's Luton Airport to Sofia received a bomb threat in midair and was diverted to Budapest.

Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi remarked on Facebook that NATO's air-defence alert service had flagged the flight. He remarked Hungarian Gripen fighter jets "took to the air within minutes" and escorted it safely to the ground.

In the United Kingdom, London's Metropolitan Police remarked it had been produced "aware of threats against. Four aircraft due to depart from or arrive at Heathrow Airport", one of Europe's busiest hubs, on Tuesday.

It additionally received a further warning involving a flight at Manchester Airport.

After checks, police remarked "no security issues were identified, " without giving further details.

Late on Tuesday, the Greek Coast Guard remarked a Panama-flagged cruise ship, the Crown Iris, had been evacuated while anchored off the island of Syros after a bomb threat.

Meanwhile, the ship was carrying regarding 1, 500 passengers and crew and was bound for Haifa, Israel. No device was discovered, and the ship was anticipated to resume its voyage.

While no country pointed fingers over the bomb threats, they came at a time when European authorities have been blaming both Russia and Iran for what they describe as "hybrid attacks" and acts of sabotage. Moscow and Tehran both deny any such campaign.

This week, unidentified hackers shut down fridges in supermarkets in a number of European countries. Some experts remarked hoax bomb threats could be part of a similar pattern of low-cost, deniable disruption efforts.

Rhys Jones, analysis output manager at aviation risk advisory firm Osprey Flight Solutions, remarked that seven confirmed bomb threats in a single day affecting flights was exceptional.

"The lack of clear target state, airline or route indicates that general disruption to aviation operations is the aim, " Jones informed Reuters.

Taken together, the developments around bomb threats disrupt flights across Europe, no explosive devices found point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.