Europe’s aviation system targeted by dozens of hoax bomb threats this week

On Monday, a Wizz Air flight traveling from London to Sofia, Bulgaria, was diverted to Budapest, Hungary, after a bomb threat was reported. Tuesday saw seven additional flights targeted, followed by a significant surge on Thursday, with at least 19 airplanes receiving threats. Four flights arriving in Prague and two in Copenhagen were subjected to searches, though no dangerous devices were found.

Friday continued to see investigations into further threats, including one at Madrid Airport impacting four flights. While most flights continued to their intended destinations after being searched, five were diverted. No injuries have been reported, and no explosives have been discovered.

British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander described the incidents as “malicious hoax threats.” In response to the severity of the threats, fighter jets were deployed, including French jets intercepting an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome, which diverted to a French air base. Bulgaria and Italy also scrambled fighter jets to escort flights.

A senior NATO military official confirmed ongoing monitoring and coordination among allies, noting that aircraft were scrambled in response. While officials initially refrained from drawing conclusions about a potential link between the incidents, some analysts suggest the threats are part of a broader hybrid warfare campaign, a tactic previously attributed to Russia to destabilize Europe and undermine support for Ukraine.

Analysts at Osprey Flight Solutions believe this week’s threats are likely a coordinated campaign intended to disrupt aviation operations and potentially linked to Russian state actors or sympathizers. Communication methods varied, with Cork Airport in Ireland receiving a phone threat and Bulgarian authorities receiving threats via email.

The International Air Transport Association has condemned the disruptions and urged authorities to identify the perpetrators.