European flights hit by hoax bomb threats for third day this week; fighter jets escort planes

On Thursday, European airline passengers faced disruptions as hoax bomb threats led to the rerouting of multiple flights, prompting fighter jets to escort the aircraft. Finnair and Wizz Air were among the carriers affected, with the latter rerouting a flight from Milan to Warsaw to Vienna due to safety concerns.

The Finnish authorities escorted the Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome, checking it thoroughly with bomb disposal experts upon arrival. Meanwhile, an Aer Lingus-operated flight from Dublin to Rome was redirected to France after another bomb threat was reported. French authorities confirmed that the plane had been escorted by military aircraft during the diversion.

This series of events marked the third consecutive day of bomb threats disrupting air traffic in Europe. On Tuesday, about ten flights were targeted, leading to the closure of Warsaw airport and the deployment of Italian air force jets to ensure passenger safety. Earlier on Monday, a Wizz Air flight from London's Luton airport to Sofia was diverted and forced an emergency landing in Budapest due to a bomb threat.

The incidents come amid heightened security concerns following a bomb threat targeting an Israeli airline flight, which reportedly landed in Bulgaria after diverting from its original route.