More than a Dozen Flights in Europe Receive Bomb Threats that Official Calls 'Malicious' Hoaxes
Officials said the false alarms forced fighter jet escorts, diversions and inspections as authorities investigated whether the incidents were connected.
- On Thursday, more than 30 flights across Europe were disrupted by hoax bomb threats, forcing emergency landings and fighter jet escorts in Italy, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic. At least 27 incidents occurred on November 5.
- An airport source in Italy told Reuters that an email with subject line "Threat report" targeted airlines and operators. The message claimed to be from "fighters of the Male State," warning of devices on inbound flights from Helsinki and Dublin that would explode in 60 minutes.
- Nicola Timpone, a 62-year-old passenger on an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome, experienced the diversion to a French military airbase. Officials said the pilot had not "cooperated as expected with the authorities," prompting fighter jet interception.
- All threats were confirmed as hoaxes with no suspicious items found by security authorities. European Union transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said Thursday it was "too early to draw conclusions on whether the reported incidents are linked."
- Experts suggest the threats served as "stress-testing" European crisis responses. Baum of Coventry University noted that diverting flights can cost up to US$250,000, though expenses vary based on flight duration and ground handling needs.
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At least 28 flights in Europe received bomb threats on November 3 and 5, 2026, causing flight diversions and emergency landings.
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PressNewsAgencyFighter jet escorts, flight diversions: What we know about Europe’s wave of hoax bomb threats
No clear pattern has emerged among the airlines and airports targeted, although a significant number of the affected flights either departed or were bound for Italy. CNA looks at what we know so far.
More than a dozen flights in Europe receive bomb threats that official calls 'malicious' hoaxes
MILAN — Bomb threats targeted more than a dozen flights in Europe on Thursday, leading to a slew of emergency landings and military escorts in some cases, authorities said. No hazardous or suspicious materials have been found in what a…
Amidst a recent series of suspected Russian sabotage attacks on European railway and cold chain networks, more than 27 passenger planes flying over Europe on the 5th (local time) faced bombing threats, causing chaos with emergency landings and diversions in various locations. Fighter jets were even scrambled against some of the aircraft.
Multiple flights across Europe face bomb threats, planes diverted or escorted by fighter jets
Multiple European flights faced bomb threats causing diversions and military escorts; all aircraft landed safely and no explosives were found after thorough inspections across affected flights.
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