European Airlines Face Fresh Wave of Bomb Threats and Costly Diversions

A new cluster of bomb threats struck European aviation on Friday, forcing carriers to divert aircraft and incur inspection costs. This activity followed a busy week of hoaxes that disrupted schedules across the continent. The latest incidents extend the pressure on airlines to manage security risks while maintaining operational efficiency.

Eurocontrol, the European air traffic authority, tracked 14 flights under threat on Thursday. That figure represented 0.05% of the nearly 26,300 flights operating on the European network that day. The authority also logged seven threats on Tuesday. Officials noted that no suspicious items were found and no passengers were injured during these events.

The financial impact on airlines remains a central concern. Robert Jordan, research director at Britain's Royal United Services Institute, stated that airlines must treat every threat as a serious liability for passenger safety. He noted that secure messaging apps have increased the anonymity of senders. "The risk appetite for airlines is always going to be incredibly low," Jordan said. He added that this caution is embedded in current safety and security procedures.

Specific disruptions occurred in Hungary, France, and Central Europe. Hungarian Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi confirmed that fighter jets escorted three passenger planes through national airspace on Friday. The protected flights originated in Brussels and Prague. In France, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's office reported four threats against aircraft over French airspace. Those planes landed safely at Paris' Orly Airport, where bomb disposal experts conducted inspections.

Czech authorities reported that nine flights were threatened at Prague's Václav Havel Airport. A WizzAir flight from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice, leading to the evacuation of passengers. A Ryanair flight from Lisbon to Rome and a Tarom flight from Prague to Bucharest also received alerts. Police at the Prague airport said security measures had a minimal impact on normal operations, though costs for inspections remain high for carriers.

The threats have expanded to include media organizations. Dublin's national broadcaster RTE evacuated its headquarters on Friday after receiving a bomb threat. Live broadcasts were replaced with prerecorded material until police with sniffer dogs cleared the building. Sky News, a UK-based broadcaster, also received a security threat but remained on air. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin described the incidents as unconventional activities designed to cause fear.

Authorities have not linked the hoaxes to a specific state or group. One email sent to Rome airport officials on Thursday claimed to be from an anti-feminist group targeting a "feminist regime." Paul Reuter, vice president of the European Cockpit Association, said crews are prepared to respond professionally. He called the use of civil aviation for geopolitical disruption "totally unacceptable." Pilots typically review diversion options and may carry extra fuel when alerts are active.