Aer Lingus pilots under investigation after bomb-threat diversion

Two Aer Lingus pilots are the subject of a criminal investigation in France after their flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a military airfield following a bomb threat on 5 November 2026. European pilot unions say the crew lacked the information needed to land there safely, while French authorities say the pilot did not cooperate as expected. No charges have been filed, according to Live and Let's Fly.

What happened to flight EI402

One Mile at a Time reports that Aer Lingus flight EI402, an Airbus A320, left Dublin at 6:40am local time. Roughly an hour into the flight, just past Paris, it changed heading after French fighter jets were deployed to escort it. It landed at Évreux-Fauville Air Base in Normandy at 10:05am local time.

The aircraft returned to Dublin later that day, departing at 4:59pm and landing at 5:20pm. One Mile at a Time calculates that passengers spent nearly 12 hours on the aircraft. Live and Let's Fly reports that no explosives were found. The threat was one of many that affected dozens of flights across Europe, according to One Mile at a Time.

The pilots' unions raise concerns

In a joint statement dated 10 November, the European Cockpit Association (ECA), the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (IALPA) and the French union SNPL said the crew did not have the aeronautical charts and operational information required to land at the military airfield. They said the pilots asked for a more suitable airport, but the request was refused.

The unions also voiced alarm at reports that the pilots faced possible prosecution for actions they say were aimed at protecting passengers, crew and aircraft. They argue that the captain should hold ultimate responsibility for safety, and that the threat of prosecution risks undermining cooperation between crews and authorities. ECA Vice-President Captain Paul Reuter was quoted by Live and Let's Fly as saying pilots "must not find themselves treated as a threat by the very authorities whose assistance they require."

France's account and the investigation

Live and Let's Fly reports that the prime minister's office said fighters were dispatched because the pilot had not cooperated as expected. Évreux prosecutor Rémi Coutin told The Irish Times that investigators were examining whether the pilot initially refused the landing instruction and whether that could amount to a criminal offence. Both pilots were questioned and allowed to leave France, and the prosecutor said on 6 November that the inquiry was continuing.

Aer Lingus has defended its crew, saying they "acted impeccably and were thoroughly professional," according to Live and Let's Fly. The two accounts of the exchange between aircraft and authorities differ, and the sources do not say whether cockpit or air traffic recordings have been released.

What this means for travellers

The sources report no change to procedures for passengers, and no official response yet on how diversion airports are chosen during security alerts. What they show is that a bomb-threat diversion can leave passengers on board for a long time: those on EI402 were on the aircraft for nearly 12 hours, and One Mile at a Time notes the A320 had no power ports or Wi-Fi. Travellers on short-haul flights may wish to carry a charged phone, water and snacks.

The outcome of the investigation, and any review of how military intercepts and diversion instructions are coordinated with crews, is not yet known. Live and Let's Fly also links the case to a recent Austrian Airlines diversion under a MiG-29 escort, though it gives no further detail here.

Sources: One Mile at a Time; Live and Let's Fly.