A new wave of bomb threats is affecting European air traffic, causing flight diversions, military aviation interventions, and extraordinary airport checks. On the morning of Thursday, November 5, an Airbus A320 from the Irish airline Aer Lingus, which took off from Dublin at 6:25 am and was headed to Rome-Fiumicino, was diverted to the French airbase in Évreux, Normandy, following a report of a possible explosive device on board. The news was confirmed by the French government to broadcaster Bfmtv, while military authorities dispatched fighter jets to escort the aircraft during the diversion.
This incident is part of a series of similar reports that have affected numerous flights departing from or arriving at various European airports in recent days. On the same morning, security protocols were also activated for a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Fiumicino and for a Wizz Air Airbus A321 that took off from Milan Malpensa bound for Warsaw, which was later diverted to Vienna. Airport authorities and police forces are conducting the necessary checks to rule out the presence of dangerous materials, while the origin of the alerts remains unclear.
Link to Aer Lingus flight changes course over France, military jets interveneAer Lingus flight changes course over France, military jets intervene
The Aer Lingus plane had left Dublin airport early in the morning to reach the Italian capital, but the alarm was raised while it was flying over French airspace. According to Paris authorities, the report concerned a possible explosive threat on board, necessitating a change in the flight plan, directing the Airbus A320 to a military facility instead of continuing to Leonardo da Vinci airport in Fiumicino.
The flight path reconstruction, visible through the Flightradar monitoring service, shows that the aircraft made a U-turn over the Essonne department, south of Paris. After performing several loops in the air, the plane initially headed north, then changed direction again to reach the Évreux airbase area in Normandy. The maneuvers took place while coordinating the necessary security procedures to manage the situation and allow the competent authorities to intervene.
The French military aviation confirmed that it had scrambled its jets "to intercept the airliner following a suspected bomb threat," later specifying that "the plane was diverted and escorted to Evreux." The decision to accompany the aircraft with military jets is part of the measures taken when a potentially serious threat involves a civilian flight. At the time of the initial communications, no elements had been released confirming the actual presence of an explosive device, while the diversion was arranged to allow for safe checks.
Link to Fiumicino, Finnair flight from Helsinki lands under military escortFiumicino, Finnair flight from Helsinki lands under military escort
The alert also affected Rome-Fiumicino airport, where a Finnair plane from Helsinki landed regularly around 9:30 am, after being escorted by Italian Air Force jets. In this case, the intervention was prompted by anonymous reports of a presumed explosive device on board, requiring the activation of procedures for airport security emergencies.
According to airport sources, after the aircraft's arrival, bomb disposal experts from the police began the necessary checks on the plane. The inspections, still ongoing at the time of the initial reports, were arranged to verify the possible presence of suspicious materials and ensure the safety of those involved. The landing took place without deviations from the intended destination, but with enhanced protection measures and the involvement of military authorities.
The report concerning the Finnair flight was in addition to that of the Aer Lingus Airbus, also headed to the Roman airport. In the latter case, however, the captain chose not to continue to Italy and instead headed to the French military airport in Évreux, where appropriate checks could be carried out. The handling of the two incidents highlights how procedures can involve different operational solutions depending on the aircraft's position, available information, and assessments made by the authorities responsible for flight safety.
Link to Wizz Air from Malpensa to Warsaw diverted to ViennaWizz Air from Malpensa to Warsaw diverted to Vienna
A third bomb threat also affected an Airbus A321 from Wizz Air on the same morning, which departed at 7 am from Milan Malpensa Silvio Berlusconi airport and was bound for Warsaw. During the flight, a report of a possible explosive threat was received, leading to the decision to interrupt the original route and head to Vienna airport, in the Austrian capital, where the plane subsequently landed.
The airline confirmed that the diversion was arranged "following a bomb threat received during the flight," thus clarifying the reasons for the change in travel plans. In this instance as well, the alert led to the application of security procedures for flights affected by potentially dangerous reports, with the involvement of the competent authorities for post-landing checks.
The simultaneous occurrence of these incidents has drawn attention to the series of threats affecting European air transport. The reports involve different airlines and international flights crossing multiple national airspaces, necessitating coordination among airport operators, air traffic controllers, police forces, and military structures. However, from the available information, there are insufficient elements to determine whether the morning's alerts are connected or traceable to a single source.
Link to About ten flights involved in previous daysAbout ten flights involved in previous days
The incidents on November 5 follow a series of bomb threats that had already affected European air traffic on Tuesday. According to the authorities of the countries involved, around ten flights were subject to suspicious reports, resulting in security checks, diversions, and temporary limitations on airport activities. Inspections conducted in those circumstances did not lead to the discovery of explosive devices or other suspicious materials, but still required the activation of protocols for such emergencies.
Among the affected flights were at least four operated by Ryanair, including another service between Dublin and Rome, as well as planes operated by Sas, Lot, and Wizz Air. At Fiumicino, in particular, two Ryanair aircraft were subjected to clearance operations following an anonymous report, while in Poland, a Lot airline plane, which took off from London-Heathrow, was diverted from Warsaw-Chopin airport to Warsaw-Modlin. The measures adopted caused operational disruptions, but the checks did not confirm the presence of bombs.
Further incidents were reported in Bulgaria, where two planes arriving in Sofia were subjected to checks after reports sent via email to the Ministry of the Interior, according to the border police. The previous day, moreover, a Wizz Air flight from London-Luton to the Bulgarian capital was forced to make an emergency landing in Budapest, escorted by two jets from the Hungarian military aviation. These interventions were also part of the precautionary measures adopted by national authorities to address threats to civilian flights.
(Associated Medias) - All rights reserved