Bomb scare disrupts flights across Europe: What is known so far?

A string of bomb threats has affected dozens of passenger flights across Europe this week, prompting diversions, emergency landings and security checks, as well as military escorts in some cases.

At least 19 incidents were reported on Thursday alone, bringing the total number of cases to 28. No explosive devices, hazardous substances or suspicious materials have been found onboard any aircraft.

What flights were targeted on Thursday?

An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to the Evreux military base in northern France following a bomb threat on Thursday, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office said. The base was put on high alert, with the French authorities ordering its military to intercept the aircraft because its pilot “didn’t cooperate as expected with the authorities,” the statement said.

Finnair said that two of its flights, en route from Helsinki to Vienna and Rome, respectively, faced bomb threats. Both landed safely at their destinations, although the one flying to Rome received a fighter jet escort following the alert.

Three Ryanair flights, all bound for the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, received threats as well. Two of them – one from Copenhagen and the other from Madrid – landed at their destination, while the third one from London was diverted to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city. All three received escorts from the Bulgarian Air Force, according to the nation’s military.

A Ryanair flight from Porto was also checked by the police after landing at its destination in Milan following another threat.

Spanish authorities reported receiving three bomb threats in under 20 minutes targeting two Air Europa departures from Madrid to Paris and four inbound Iberia flights from Rome and Milan. The flights that were due to depart from the Spanish capital were halted for an inspection.

In Poland, a LOT flight from Warsaw to Paris was stopped as it was about to take off because of a threat and the passengers were transferred to another aircraft. Another LOT flight from Warsaw landed safely in Brussels following a bomb alert.