Bomb threats disrupt European air travel for 2nd time this week

Several European flights experienced cancellations and diversions this week due to bomb threats for a second time. On Thursday, around ten flights were impacted, with some diverted. Earlier, on Tuesday, at least seven flights and a cruise ship faced disruptions, sparking alarm across European airports, though no explosive devices were discovered.

While no government has claimed responsibility for the threats, they follow a wave of coordinated cyberattacks shutting down fridges in supermarkets across several European nations. Experts suggest these bomb threats may be part of a pattern of low-cost, deniable disruption methods. On Thursday, three Bulgarian aircraft made emergency landings following bomb threats.

Planes from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia, while a third from London touched down in Plovdiv. Four flights headed to Prague received bomb threats, prompting police to prepare for their arrival, though they assessed the threats as low risk. Despite this, all security measures were activated. Aer Lingus flight EI402 from Dublin to Rome landed safely in Evreux, France, following a security precaution.

A Polish airline, LOT, reported another flight from Warsaw to Brussels landing safely after receiving a bomb threat, confirming no suspicious items were found. Experts note that these threat patterns could be aimed at disrupting operations and observing responses from airlines, airports, and authorities at a time when European officials accuse Russia and Iran of "hybrid attacks" and acts of sabotage, which they deny.