Wave of Bomb Threats Disrupts Dozens of Flights Across Europe

Commercial flights across Europe faced a fresh wave of bomb threats on November 6, the second major outbreak in less than a week. By midday, at least 17 flights had been disrupted. All inspected aircraft were cleared after searches found no explosives.

Hungary scrambled fighter jets three times to escort planes through its airspace. Targets included a Wizz Air flight from Brussels to Sofia and flights from Prague to Bucharest and Cyprus. Bulgarian authorities received alerts on two inbound flights to Sofia. Prague airport reported nine flights affected that morning. A Ryanair flight from Rome to Lisbon was assessed after a phone threat; Portuguese police later determined it was a hoax.

Earlier in the week, more than 30 flights were hit, including services from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Denmark. An Aer Lingus plane from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a French military base after interception by French fighters. Finnair and multiple Ryanair flights received escorts. Sofia and Milan each saw multiple incidents. European Union transport officials said it was too early to determine whether the threats were linked or coordinated.

Airlines and airports increased security checks and monitoring. No passengers were harmed, and no suspicious materials were recovered. The pattern has forced emergency landings, schedule changes, and military involvement across at least 16 countries. Authorities continue to investigate the origin of the calls and messages.

The repeated hoaxes have strained air traffic systems already managing normal volumes. Each alert requires the aircraft to land at a suitable airport for inspection, sometimes with fighter escort for the final approach. The cumulative effect has delayed thousands of passengers and required coordination among national aviation and security agencies.

As of November 6, no group has claimed responsibility. Officials in Ireland and elsewhere described the pattern as likely deliberate disruption. Further incidents on the same day kept crews and controllers on alert into the evening. The absence of actual devices has not reduced the operational response required for each credible-sounding threat.