Bomb threats hit 14 flights and three broadcasters across Europe

European air traffic controllers reported 14 separate bomb threats against commercial flights on Thursday, a number that represented just 0.05 percent of the 26,300 total flights in the network. An additional seven flights faced similar alerts on Tuesday, while EU transportation commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas confirmed 11 more threats were issued on Friday. Despite the high volume of reports, no suspicious items were found and no passengers or crew were injured during the disruptions.

The alerts triggered a series of immediate operational responses across the continent. In Hungary, defense minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi stated that fighter jets escorted three passenger planes through national airspace within an hour. Those flights originated in Brussels and Prague, heading to Sofia, Cyprus, and Romania. In France, four aircraft received threats and landed safely at Paris Orly Airport for inspection by bomb disposal experts. A Wizz Air flight from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice, where passengers were evacuated after landing.

Václav Havel Airport in Prague was the most affected hub, with nine of the threatened flights involving departures or arrivals at the facility. Airport spokesperson Denisa Hejtmánková noted that security measures had a minimal impact on normal operations. The affected routes included connections to and from Denmark, Spain, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, and Romania. Meanwhile, police in Copenhagen deployed to the airport for a second consecutive day as a precaution, though they determined there was no danger to those present.

The aviation industry is treating the incidents with high urgency. Robert Jordan, research director at the Royal United Services Institute, explained that airlines must take every threat seriously due to their responsibility for passenger safety. He noted that secure messaging apps allow for greater anonymity, increasing the methods available to send threats. Jordan described the risk appetite for airlines as incredibly low, a standard baked into their security procedures.

The threats have also extended to media organizations. Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTE, evacuated its Dublin headquarters on Friday, replacing live broadcasts with prerecorded programs until police with sniffer dogs cleared the building. The U.K.-based broadcaster Sky also received a security threat and stated it was working closely with authorities. In Bulgaria, NOVA TV received an email claiming the sender was behind the air traffic threats, though the station continued its broadcasts without interruption.

Authorities have not yet identified the group or state actor responsible for the coordinated alerts. An email sent to Rome airport authorities purported to come from an anti-feminist group targeting a feminist regime. A similar message was received at another European airport, though a link between the two senders has not been confirmed. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said the events indicate that civilian infrastructure is under attack, though she noted it is not yet clear if all incidents are connected.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin warned that such activities are designed to cause fear and anxiety through unconventional means. He announced a significant security operation would be in place for upcoming European Union leader meetings in Dublin. Paul Reuter, vice president of the European Cockpit Association, said pilots are prepared to respond professionally by reviewing procedures and carrying extra fuel, calling the use of civil aviation for geopolitical disruption totally unacceptable.

Eurocontrol stated it is monitoring the situation and working with airlines and airports to mitigate disruption. A meeting of security experts is scheduled for next week in Brussels to discuss further measures. The European air traffic authority emphasized that while the threats caused some delays, the overall impact on aviation flows remained limited.