Aer Lingus Flight From Dublin To Rome Diverted To French Military Base After Bomb Threat

Aer Lingus Flight EI402, operating from Dublin to Rome, was unexpectedly diverted to a military air base in western France on Thursday due to a bomb threat, according to the French prime minister's office. The aircraft aimed to land at the Evreux Fauville Air Base in Normandy. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's office confirmed that they were monitoring the situation continuously.

No additional details were immediately made available. The flight's tracking data revealed it was en route to Paris when it abruptly changed course, performing several loops before heading towards Evreux. Multiple flights across Europe experienced hoax bomb threats that week, leading to searches, diversions, and, in one instance, an escort by the Italian air force during landing, officials reported.

These incidents included flights operated by Polish airline LOT, Scandinavian Airlines, Wizz Air, and Ryanair. The bomb threats occurred following a diversion of a Polish Airlines flight to Hungary after receiving a similar threat, with no one injured in any of the incidents. Such threats have not been uncommon but coincide with heightened geopolitical tensions and instances of "disruption," such as attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems, drone intrusions in Europe, and mysterious triggers for alert apps. Authorities have cautioned about the potential for hybrid threats.