In brief
The latest wave of bomb threats disrupted more than twenty passenger flights across Europe, forcing diversions, fighter jet scrambles, and extensive inspections. Authorities confirmed no explosives and are probing origins, with experts citing copy‑cat activity, cyber tactics, or hybrid‑warfare motives. Key incidents involved airlines such as Ryanair and Finnair, and anonymous emails triggered alerts at airports including Rome’s Fiumicino.
More than 20 passenger flights were diverted and investigated on Thursday after a fresh wave of bomb threats struck Europe, with fighter jets scrambling and airports carrying out emergency inspections, though authorities found no explosives.
The alerts, reported by Xinhua from LONDON/BRUSSELS on Nov. 5, affected major carriers including Ryanair, Finnair, Wizz Air, Aer Lingus, LOT Polish Airlines and Aegean Airlines, with flights operating among Britain, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and Greece.
Most threats were delivered through anonymous emails. An Italian public broadcaster, Rai News 24, reported that a single Italian‑language email sent to Rome’s Fiumicino airport operator and other airport‑based companies triggered alerts involving two Rome‑bound flights from Helsinki and Dublin, and similar warnings were reported at Milan Malpensa and other airports.
Investigators have not yet found a common source. Matthew Borie, co‑founder and chief intelligence officer of aviation security consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions, outlined several possible explanations, including copy‑cat behaviour, repeated warnings by an individual or group, and operations associated with hybrid warfare by state actors or their supporters.
Security analysts have suggested that repeated false warnings could be designed to create uncertainty among passengers, impose extra costs on airlines and test the responses of aviation authorities, even without the intent to carry out an actual attack.
In a response to Xinhua on Thursday, the European Commission cited remarks by Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism, who said it was too early to determine whether the incidents represented a new strategy or were isolated acts.
