Bomb threats disrupt seven flights across Europe; searches find no explosives
Original report:
Seven passenger planes were searched or diverted across Europe after bomb threats, including two departures from Britain. All landed safely and no explosives were found. UK officials described the threats as hoaxes, while investigators had not established whether the incidents were connected.
Bomb threats disrupted seven passenger flights across Europe on Tuesday, triggering diversions, evacuations and security searches. All aircraft landed safely, and checks found no explosives. The affected services included departures from Heathrow and Manchester, with four flights operated by Ryanair and the others by LOT, SAS and Wizz Air.
Warsaw’s Modlin airport briefly closed after receiving a diverted LOT flight from Heathrow. Italian fighter jets escorted a Ryanair service from Dublin into Rome. Downing Street characterised the threats affecting UK departures as malicious hoaxes. Investigators had found no evidence of terrorist activity or immediate indication of hostile-state involvement, but whether the incidents were linked remained unclear.
The incidents show how bomb warnings can disrupt aviation even when searches uncover no devices: airports in Warsaw faced closures, and some flights required military escorts. Airlines follow regulated procedures for assessing threats. Aviation security expert Philip Baum said fake warnings occur daily, while specific, credible threats require a response.
Source
the Guardian — 3 November 2026
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