At least 27 flights across Europe were hit by bomb threats on Thursday, forcing emergency landings, military escorts and airport security checks, according to RaiNews. No explosives were found in any of the cases, and no incidents were reported.
The alerts reached airlines including Aer Lingus, Finnair, Wizz Air, Ryanair and LOT Polish Airlines, with episodes recorded in France, Italy, Austria, Belgium and Bulgaria, RaiNews reported. The threats arrived by email at airports in several countries.
The day's disruptions came just two days after at least seven similar alerts on 3 November, all of which were also unfounded.
Why it matters
The wave of threats shut down normal operations for budget carriers and national airlines alike, tying up fighter jets, bomb squads and airport police across more than a dozen countries. According to RaiNews, flights connecting Italy, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Finland, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, France, Greece, Serbia and the Czech Republic were affected.
The volume of alerts has drawn attention from security officials, who are now asking whether the incidents are connected. A spokesperson for Germany's interior ministry told LaPresse, as cited in the reporting, that investigators are examining whether the threats of recent days follow a shared pattern, and that federal and state security authorities are in contact with European partners and the airlines.
Three diversions and fighter escorts
Most aircraft landed at their intended destinations and were then searched. Three flights were sent to other airports.
An Aer Lingus service from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a military airbase at Evreux in Normandy, escorted by fighter jets. According to the reporting, the pilot initially refused to land at the base. A passenger on that flight told ANSA that those on board feared the worst when the military aircraft appeared.
A Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Sofia was redirected to Plovdiv in Bulgaria, and a Wizz Air service from Milan to Warsaw was sent to Vienna.
A fourth aircraft, flying from Helsinki to Rome, was accompanied by Italian air force jets until it landed at Fiumicino, RaiNews reported. In every case, checks by explosives specialists found nothing.
Berlin sets out its response
The German interior ministry spokesperson described an unusually high number of bomb threats against aircraft both on the ground and in flight in recent days, involving multiple airlines and airports.
Under German procedures, airlines, airports and police at federal and state level launch measures to prevent danger in line with international aviation security standards. Depending on the circumstances, that can mean diverting an aircraft to another airport or letting it land as planned at its destination.
Police commanders can order searches of the aircraft for dangerous objects, and specialist units such as bomb disposal teams or explosive-detection dogs can be deployed. Passengers, baggage and cargo may also be checked, depending on the nature of the threat.
Claims of responsibility and political reaction
Coverage linked in the reporting, including from HuffPost Italia and la Repubblica, describes a group that reportedly claimed responsibility for the alerts. CYBEV.io has not independently verified those claims and is not naming the group.
In Italy, politicians responded to the disruptions. Maurizio Gasparri, who chairs the foreign affairs and defence committee in the Senate, told Rai Radio1 that the alerts illustrate why higher spending on defence and security is needed. He described hybrid warfare as including the use of technology and threats, and said the committee is discussing legislation that would give military leaders a broader role in cyber matters.
Valentina Ghio, a deputy chair of the PD group in the Chamber of Deputies, and Anthony Barbagallo, the party's group leader on the transport committee, said in a statement that they were concerned by the alerts involving Italian and European aircraft. They called for caution and for the government to brief parliament on what is happening and what countermeasures are being taken.
What to watch
National authorities are still investigating the threats, and German officials have not said whether they believe a single actor is behind them. The open question is whether the alerts continue at the same pace, and whether investigators in Berlin and elsewhere confirm a common pattern behind the emails.
