27 Flights Hit by Threats as European Airports Brace for More Disruption

At least 27 flights were targeted by bomb threats on Thursday alone, triggering a wave of diversions and military interceptions across Europe. The disruptions continued into Friday as authorities reported fresh alerts affecting passenger planes and broadcasting stations in Ireland.

Hungarian Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi stated that military fighter jets escorted three passenger aircraft through the country's airspace within a single hour on Friday. The flights originated from Brussels, Prague, and were bound for Sofia and Cyprus. French authorities confirmed four new threats against aircraft flying over French territory on Friday. The affected planes landed safely at Paris' Orly Airport, where bomb disposal teams conducted inspections.

Additional incidents included threats against a Tarom flight from Prague to Bucharest and a Ryanair service from Lisbon to Rome. Security inspections on both aircraft found no explosives. A WizzAir flight from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice following a bomb alert. Passengers evacuated the plane upon landing, and police searches turned up nothing, though air traffic at the Venice airport was briefly suspended.

In Prague, spokesperson Denisa Hejtmankova said nine flights were threatened in total. The affected routes included arrivals from Denmark, Spain, and Britain, as well as departures to the Netherlands, Cyprus, Romania, Italy, and Britain. Czech police described the impact on normal airport operations as minimal. In Copenhagen, police visited the airport for a second consecutive day as a precaution regarding threats to air traffic. Officials assessed that there was no danger to passengers or other personnel.

Authorities have not yet identified the group behind the hoaxes or linked them to a specific state. Some messages claimed to be from a far-right Russian movement called the Male State, while others contained misogynistic language. AFP reported that it had not verified a connection between that group and the threats.

The disruption extended to the media sector in Ireland on Friday. National broadcaster RTE, Virgin Media, Newstalk radio, and The Irish Independent all received bomb threats that proved to be hoaxes. The Irish government described the events as likely part of a coordinated campaign of disruption. It noted that it remained unclear whether the actions were driven by individuals or a centralized operation.

Newstalk host Claire Byrne said staff were advised to leave the building after receiving a message. She added that they were later told the warning was a hoax and could return. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said the threats illustrate how simple it can be to cause disruption through unconventional activities designed to create fear and anxiety.

Martin stated that a very significant security operation would be in place next week when Dublin hosts meetings of the European Political Community and EU leaders. Police are working with Ireland's military, cyber, and aviation authorities, along with European counterparts, to identify those responsible.

The latest wave follows recent disruptions, including an Israel-bound KLM flight that landed in Bucharest for a technical stop before receiving a bomb threat on Thursday. On October 18, an Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna diverted to Sofia after a threat, with Bulgarian fighter jets escorting the aircraft. On Tuesday, the Israeli-operated cruise ship Crown Iris was held at the Greek island of Syros after a claim that an explosive was attached to its hull. The 940 passengers and 597 crew members were evacuated during a search that found no device.