False bomb threats disrupt over 50 European flights
A coordinated wave of false bomb threats disrupted more than 50 flights across Europe this week, forcing diversions, delays, and fighter jet escorts.
Over 50 flights were disrupted by false bomb threats across Europe this week. The threats, which occurred on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, led to diversions, cancellations, and delays, though no explosives were found on any aircraft.
Hungarian authorities scrambled fighter jets three times on Friday morning to escort civilian flights to safety. A Wizz Air flight from Brussels to Sofia and a Ryanair service from London Stansted were among those escorted, both landing safely. Separately, an AJet flight from Istanbul diverted to Vienna after circling Prague. At least 17 flights were reportedly disrupted on Friday alone, adding to a weekly total of more than 50 affected flights out of the roughly 27,000 scheduled across Europe.
Threats span multiple routes and airports
Disruptions hit flights between major European cities including Brussels, Paris, Rome, Sofia, Prague, and Amsterdam. Prague airport saw the largest number of alerts, with nine flights affected on Friday. Incoming flights from Denmark, Spain, and the UK were targeted, as were outgoing services to the Netherlands, Cyprus, Romania, Italy, and the UK.
Multiple airlines were forced to divert their aircraft. The table below lists some of the confirmed diversions.
Flight tracking data showed at least four planes holding near Prague Airport during the alerts. Two flights bound for Sofia managed to land safely after security checks.
Governments and airlines respond to coordinated threat pattern
The Irish government issued a warning, condemning the attacks for causing fear, distress, and disruption. It confirmed a likely coordinated campaign was behind the threats. Dutch military police verified that a searched KLM flight from Prague to Amsterdam carried no explosives.
The first alert targeted Wizz Air flight W64328 from Brussels to Sofia. A second hit Wizz Air flight W64600 from Prague to Larnaca, and a third affected a Tarom flight from Prague to Bucharest. In some cases, threats were called in before takeoff, leading to deplaning and searches. In others, calls came mid-flight, causing sudden diversions.
A group claiming responsibility sent an email to media outlets warning of further attacks. The threats originated from roughly a dozen countries, a timing authorities say is likely not a coincidence. The founder of the group linked to the threats stated in a Telegram post that "the group hasn't even existed since 2021." The same message ended with a promise that 'This is only the beginning' of further coordinated threats.
