Travel
Bomb threats hit flights across Europe; no devices found in Warsaw, Sofia, Rome, Murcia
A string of hoax-style alerts diverted and delayed planes from Poland to Spain, raising questions about low-cost disruption tactics, though no one has claimed responsibility.
Desh Flash desk4 November 2026, 7:30 am IST2 minUpdated 4 November 2026, 7:30 am IST
Bomb threats against several passenger flights disrupted air travel across Europe, with planes diverted, searched or escorted, but no explosive devices were found on any of them. No group has claimed responsibility, and officials have not blamed anyone.
In Poland, a LOT flight from London bound for Warsaw's Chopin airport was sent to nearby Modlin, which closed briefly and reopened after the aircraft was searched. An SAS flight from Copenhagen landed at Chopin as scheduled, and the airport said nothing was found and operations continued.
Bulgaria's transport ministry said threats were made against a Wizz Air flight from Milan/Bergamo carrying 176 passengers and a Ryanair flight from Dublin with 186 on board, both heading to Sofia. Both landed safely and inspections found nothing. An earlier report of an affected flight from Israel was later said to be incorrect. A day before, a Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest after a threat, according to Hungary's defence minister.
Spain and Italy saw similar scares. Part of Murcia airport was cordoned off over a Ryanair flight from Manchester, and officials called the report a hoax. At Rome's Fiumicino, Ryanair flights from Lisbon and Dublin were searched, with the Dublin plane escorted by the Italian Air Force. The alert was cleared with no wider impact.
For travellers and airlines, the cost is in delays, diversions and crew and aircraft out of position, even when threats prove empty. That is why some analysts see such hoaxes as cheap, deniable ways to unsettle systems. European officials have previously accused Russia and Iran of "hybrid attacks" and sabotage, which both deny. This week, hackers also shut down supermarket fridges in several countries.
Eric Schouten of aviation security group Dyami said the pattern fits the narrative of Russian state actors wanting to disturb Europe. That remains an expert view, not an official finding. The good news for now: airports kept running and every passenger landed safely.
Source: ThePrint
