At least 27 flights across Europe were disrupted on Thursday by bomb threats, marking the second wave of incidents in a single week. While no explosives were discovered in any of the cases, the hoaxes forced diversions, ground searches, and significant schedule rebuilds for major carriers.
Interceptions and Ground Searches
The incidents involved a mix of commercial airlines and national responses. French fighter jets intercepted Aer Lingus flight EI402, which was traveling from Dublin to Rome with more than 150 passengers on board. The aircraft was escorted to the Évreux air base in Normandy. The office of the French prime minister stated that the pilot did not cooperate as expected, though no further details were provided.
In Bulgaria, the air force escorted three separate airliners to the ground. Meanwhile, Spanish authorities in Madrid halted Air Europa and Iberia aircraft after receiving three emailed threats in less than 20 minutes. The planes were emptied and searched by security personnel.
Earlier in the week, threats targeted flights operated by Wizz Air, Ryanair, LOT Polish Airlines, and Scandinavian Airlines. A cruise ship in Greece also faced a threat earlier in the week. Bloomberg reported that there is no discernible pattern in the carriers or routes targeted.
Operational and Financial Impact
The operational cost of these hoaxes is substantial. Each threat requires an airline to divert a plane, conduct a full security search, and often deploy a replacement aircraft. This process leads to crew timing out and passengers being rebooked. According to reports, insurance policies typically do not cover these commercial losses, leaving airlines to absorb the financial hit.
These disruptions occur while European carriers are already managing increased expenses. Jet fuel prices have more than doubled compared to the same period last year. Additionally, closures of Middle East airspace have lengthened flight routes to Asia, and drone incursions at various airports have added further complexity to daily operations.
Attribution and Security Concerns
No government has claimed responsibility for the threats. Matthew Borie of Osprey Flight Solutions told the Associated Press that the incidents could be the work of copycats, a single individual or group, or “hybrid warfare” by state actors. He pointed to a possible Russian link, noting that Moscow has denied European accusations of sabotage this year.
The hoaxes add to a growing list of challenges for routine flying in Europe. Conflict-driven fuel costs, closed airspace, and security threats are making air travel increasingly difficult to manage for both airlines and passengers.
Source: Skift
