Aer Lingus jet lands at French military base after bomb alert
Seven European aircraft received threats as Dublin to Rome flight diverted to Evreux for inspection.
By Anthony Foster ·
An Aer Lingus plane flying from Dublin to Rome diverted to a military airfield in France following a reported bomb threat.
The aircraft alerted air traffic control to an emergency while crossing French airspace. The office of the French Prime Minister released the information to the public. Paris-based journalist John Litchfield noted that the high-level announcement suggested the country was treating the situation with great seriousness.
The flight initially appeared to be heading to a different airport before it was redirected to the military base in Evreux. Officials stated that a bomb squad unit was already stationed at that location. Consequently, the plane was escorted to the base for a rapid inspection.
The Prime Minister's office claimed that passengers and crew were moved to a safe area before the bomb squad boarded the aircraft. However, passengers on the flight provided a different account of the timeline.
Ruairi, a radio listener, spoke with a friend who was on the flight with his family. The passenger sent photos through a group chat showing Air Force jets flying alongside the commercial plane. The images confirmed the military escort during the approach to the base.
According to the passenger, the group remained on the plane while on the tarmac. They were instructed to wait for 40 minutes until the bomb squad arrived. A photo taken by the passenger showed the bomb squad positioned at a safe distance from the aircraft on the ground. The passenger reported that everyone seemed calm during the wait.
The incident is part of a larger pattern across Europe. Seven aircraft have been subject to bomb threats in recent times. Litchfield described the events as a campaign by an unknown individual. He said the coordination of the response at the prime ministerial level indicated the severity of the current situation.
