MAPPED: How dozens of bomb threats caused flight chaos in Europe this week

This week, dozens of bomb threats across Europe caused significant flight disruptions, including diversions, delays, and fighter jets being scrambled. At least 35 airplanes received malicious hoax threats, originating from various locations such as Ireland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, and Spain. The first incident occurred on Monday when a Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest after receiving a bomb threat.

By Thursday, at least 19 airplanes were targeted, including four flights arriving in Prague. Danish police searched two airplanes in Copenhagen, finding nothing of interest. On Friday, Madrid Airport received another threat affecting four flights. NATO continues to monitor the situation and coordinate with Allies to respond to potential threats, including scrambling aircraft.

The International Air Transport Association condemned the disruption and urged authorities to find the origins of these hoax threats. While the exact origin of the threats remains unclear, analysts speculate that they may be linked to Russian state actors or individuals sympathetic to Russia, part of a broader hybrid warfare campaign aimed at disrupting European aviation operations.