European air traffic targeted again by bomb threats after a week of hoaxes
PRAGUE — Officials across Europe reported a fresh slew of bomb threats against multiple flights on Friday, following a string of hoaxes that have caused flight diversions this week. Two broadcasters also received security threats, in a possible sign the menace was spreading beyond the skies. No suspicious items have been found and no one has been injured, but the threats have raised concern…
Europe is once again grappling with a wave of bomb threats against its air traffic, following a week of hoaxes that have caused flight diversions. Officials across the continent reported additional threats on Friday, while two broadcasters also received security threats, suggesting the menace may be spreading beyond the skies. Despite the heightened alert, no suspicious items have been discovered and no one has been hurt.
However, the repeated threats have raised serious concerns, coming in the wake of other European disruptions such as attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems and drone incursions.
In total, the threats have caused only minimal disruption to aviation, according to the European air traffic authority, Eurocontrol. The authority noted that they were aware of bomb threats against 14 flights on Thursday, accounting for a mere 0.05% of the nearly 26,300 flights across the European network that day. Seven flight threats were reported on Tuesday as well.
Despite the low percentage of affected flights, airlines must take every threat seriously, as they are ultimately responsible for the safety of their passengers, according to Robert Jordan, research director at Britain's Royal United Services Institute think tank.
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