Commercial flights across Europe were disrupted on Thursday (5 Nov) after coordinated bomb threats prompted diversions, emergency landings and extensive security inspections at multiple airports. Authorities confirmed that all affected aircraft landed safely and that no explosive devices had been found. Investigations into the origin of the threats remain ongoing.
Airlines including Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Finnair, Wizz Air, LOT Polish Airlines and Aegean Airlines were among those affected as aviation authorities implemented established security protocols. Officials have not publicly identified those responsible or confirmed whether the incidents were coordinated.
Key developments
- At least 27 commercial flights were affected across Europe.
- No explosives were discovered on searched aircraft.
- Investigations remain ongoing, with no attribution of responsibility announced.
Thursday’s incidents followed similar hoax bomb threats that disrupted at least seven flights and a cruise ship earlier in the week, with no explosives found in any case.
Although no country has attributed responsibility for the threats, they come amid wider European allegations that Russia and Iran have conducted hybrid attacks and sabotage operations across the continent—claims both Moscow and Tehran have repeatedly denied.
Security experts say the aviation threats fit a broader pattern of low-cost, disruptive incidents, but caution that there is currently no evidence publicly linking either state to the flight hoaxes.