European airlines divert flights after new wave of bomb threats

Unplanned landings affected at least seven aircraft across Europe on Thursday morning after multiple flights received bomb threats. No explosive devices were found during subsequent security screenings at the destinations.

Czech police confirmed that four airplanes bound for Prague received the warnings. The agency stated on X that it assessed the credibility of the threats as low but activated all necessary security measures to minimize impact on passengers. All aircraft were scheduled for pyrotechnic inspections after landing.

Bulgarian authorities reported three separate emergency landings. The interior minister said planes arriving from Copenhagen and Madrid diverted to Sofia. A third aircraft from London landed in Plovdiv, according to local media reports.

Polish carrier LOT said flight LO235 from Warsaw to Brussels landed safely after receiving a security warning. The crew conducted an onboard inspection and found no suspicious items. Security services at Brussels Airport performed an additional check of the plane.

Aer Lingus diverted flight EI402 from Dublin to Rome to Evreux airport, located 100 km west of Paris. The airline described the move as a security precaution. Meanwhile, a Finnair plane from Helsinki was escorted to Rome by the Italian air force, a source close to the matter said.

This wave follows disruptions on Tuesday, when at least seven flights and a cruise ship received bomb threats. No devices were discovered in that instance either. European officials have attributed recent disruptions, including drone incursions and a cyberattack on supermarket refrigerators, to hybrid attacks by Russia and Iran. Moscow and Tehran have both denied involvement in a coordinated campaign.

Some experts suggest the hoax threats fit a pattern of low-cost, deniable disruption efforts. The threats continue amid a period of heightened security attention across the continent.