Sixteen Flights Hit by Bomb Threats Across Europe in One Day

At least 16 passenger flights received bomb threats across Europe on November 5, 2026, triggering fighter escorts in France, Italy and Bulgaria, three diversions and security sweeps at airports from Dublin's destination points to Bucharest. Every search completed by the end of the day found no explosives.

The wave of alerts struck flights operated by Aer Lingus, Finnair, Ryanair, Wizz Air and LOT Polish Airlines. It came two days after a similar series of threats against Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT and SAS flights on November 3, which also produced no finds. Authorities have not identified those responsible or established whether the two waves are connected.

How did the responses differ?

The pattern varied by jurisdiction. Some aircraft diverted; others landed as scheduled and were searched at the gate.

• Aer Lingus EI402, an Airbus A320 flying Dublin to Rome Fiumicino, diverted to Évreux-Fauville Air Base in Normandy after a threat. The office of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the diversion. The aircraft landed shortly after 10:00 local time with 151 passengers and six crew, who were moved to safety while military bomb-disposal specialists examined the jet. The French Air and Space Force dispatched aircraft to intercept and escort it.
• Finnair AY1761, an Airbus A321 from Helsinki to Rome, landed at its scheduled destination under escort from two Italian Air Force Eurofighters. Finnair Communications Manager Stiina Tuunanen told Finnish broadcaster Yle that inspectors "found nothing unusual on board." Airport operator Aeroporti di Roma confirmed the checks were negative and did not disrupt operations.
• Wizz Air W4 6387 from Milan Malpensa to Warsaw Chopin diverted to Vienna. The airline said the diversion followed established security procedures and that it was cooperating with authorities. A second Vienna arrival, Finnair AY1471 from Helsinki, was also targeted; both Finnair aircraft landed safely and passengers disembarked.

What happened in Bulgaria?

Three Ryanair flights bound for Sofia were affected. Bulgarian MiG-29 fighters scrambled from Graf Ignatievo Air Base at 10:11 local time and escorted the aircraft under NATO air policing procedures (the alliance's collective arrangement for securing member airspace).

Flights FR3606 from Copenhagen and FR6410 from Madrid landed at Sofia. Flight FR1730 from London Stansted diverted to Plovdiv, a diversion confirmed by Plovdiv Airport CEO Krassimir Peshev, according to the Bulgarian News Agency. Bulgaria's Transport Ministry later confirmed inspections of all three aircraft found nothing suspicious, and operations at both airports returned to normal.

Where were aircraft searched on the ground?

Czech police reported threats against four aircraft approaching Václav Havel Airport Prague. Police assessed the threats as low-credibility, but bomb-disposal teams inspected all four aircraft after landing. Nothing was found and airport operations continued without restriction. The case passed to the Czech police's National Center Against Terrorism, Extremism, and Cybercrime.

In Brussels, LOT flight LO235 from Warsaw received a threat. The crew conducted an onboard inspection and found nothing suspicious; a second search by Belgian authorities after landing also came up empty.

In Bucharest, Wizz Air W43064 from Milan Malpensa landed at Henri Coandă International Airport at approximately 11:09 local time carrying 182 passengers and seven crew. Romania's intelligence service, the SRI, said the crew notified air traffic control, an airport crisis team was activated, and bomb-disposal specialists checked the aircraft. The SRI later confirmed no security threat was found.

Milan Malpensa itself handled two threatened arrivals: Aegean Airlines A3552 from Thessaloniki landed at 09:33 local time, followed by Ryanair FR8953 from Porto at 10:22, according to Italian agency ANSA. Neither diverted. Police bomb-disposal specialists inspected aircraft, passengers and crew.

What does this change for operations?

The operational cost was real but contained. Warsaw Chopin temporarily closed one runway after LOT flight LO331 to Paris Charles de Gaulle was stopped while taxiing following a warning about a potentially dangerous object. LOT spokesperson Krzysztof Moczulski said no dangerous items were found and passengers would continue on a replacement aircraft.

Austrian police confirmed Vienna airport received threatening emails at approximately 08:50 local time concerning four unidentified flights. The messages were assessed as a non-specific threat, and security procedures were implemented without disrupting operations. Copenhagen police deployed military explosive ordnance disposal specialists to two arrivals after reports of suspicious circumstances, finding nothing; police did not say whether those incidents involved explicit bomb threats.

With no arrests announced and no confirmed link between the November 3 and November 5 waves, European carriers and airports face the prospect of continued disruptive hoaxes until investigators trace the source of the threats.