This is the third consecutive day that a widespread wave of bomb threats has targeted European airports, primarily affecting low-cost airlines operating domestic routes across the continent.
The ANSA news agency reported that two aircraft operated by EJA Air Lines and Ryanair landed safely at Milan Malpensa Airport in Italy after receiving warnings. Meanwhile, Italian fighter jets escorted a Finnair aircraft to Rome Airport.
An Aer Lingus aircraft operating flight EI 402 from Dublin to Rome was diverted as a precaution and landed at Évreux Airport, 100 kilometers west of Paris.
A LOT Polish Airlines aircraft was forced to land at Brussels Airport. In Prague, the Czech capital, police searched four aircraft that had received threats, but found no explosives.
Bulgarian authorities confirmed the emergency landing of three aircraft. Two landed at Sofia Airport after departing from Copenhagen and Madrid, while another landed in the city of Plovdiv after flying from London.
The threats came after seven flights and a cruise ship in Europe received similar warnings last Tuesday. No party has so far claimed responsibility for the incidents. European officials suspect that Russia and Iran may be behind the series of “hybrid” and disruptive threats, but Moscow and Tehran categorically deny the allegations. Experts meanwhile say that such false warnings, like this week’s cyberattacks targeting the refrigeration systems of major European ports, are aimed at undermining stability and creating disruption at minimal cost.
