Multiple bomb threats target European passenger flights, prompting diversions and fighter jet escort

Several passenger flights across Europe were targeted by bomb threats on Tuesday, 3 November, triggering emergency security procedures in Poland, Spain, Italy and Bulgaria. At least six flights were affected, with aircraft inspected by security services and one Ryanair flight escorted by Italian Air Force fighter jets. No explosives have been found in the reported incidents.

In Poland, LOT Polish Airlines flight LO286, operating from London Heathrow to Warsaw Chopin Airport, was diverted to Warsaw Modlin Airport after a bomb threat was reported at 09:54 local time. The Boeing 737 MAX landed safely at 10:01 with 181 people on board. Passengers were evacuated while security services searched the aircraft. Nothing suspicious was found, and passengers were subsequently transported to Warsaw Chopin by coach. Modlin Airport was temporarily closed for approximately two hours before normal operations resumed.

A separate threat was reported against Scandinavian Airlines flight SK751 from Copenhagen to Warsaw. The aircraft landed normally at Warsaw Chopin Airport, where passengers disembarked while security personnel carried out inspections. One runway was temporarily closed, but the airport remained operational. No explosive device was discovered.

Spain also activated its emergency security procedures after a bomb alert involving Ryanair flight FR4116, operating from Manchester to Murcia. The aircraft landed safely at Murcia International Airport, where 114 passengers and seven crew members disembarked for security checks. Police and bomb-disposal specialists inspected the aircraft. Francisco Lucas, the Spanish government’s representative in the Murcia region, later confirmed that the Civil Guard had ruled out the presence of explosives and that the airport had resumed normal operations.

In Italy, two Ryanair flights arriving at Rome Fiumicino Airport were subjected to security inspections following separate bomb warnings. One aircraft arrived from Lisbon, while Ryanair flight FR9611 was operating from Dublin. The latter was escorted by Italian Air Force fighter jets following an anonymous bomb report. Police bomb-disposal specialists inspected the aircraft, passengers, crew and baggage. No explosives were found in either case.

Further alerts were reported in Bulgaria, where authorities investigated threats involving flights arriving at Sofia Airport. Reports identified a Wizz Air flight from Milan Bergamo, flight W64390, and an arrival from Dublin among the aircraft subjected to security checks. Bulgarian authorities said they were working to identify the individuals responsible for sending the threats. Some initial reports also referred to an aircraft arriving from Israel, although the precise details of the Sofia incidents remain subject to clarification.

The incidents follow a separate bomb threat on Monday, 2 November, involving a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia. The Airbus A321 was diverted to Budapest while flying over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hungarian Gripen fighter jets were scrambled to escort the aircraft, which landed safely. Following security inspections, no explosives were found and the aircraft subsequently continued its journey to Bulgaria.

Authorities have not established whether the threats are connected or whether they originated from a common source. Bulgarian officials have indicated that efforts to identify the senders of the threatening messages are continuing.