Bomb threats hit European flights, prompting fighter escorts

At least 25 passenger flights were targeted by bomb threats across Europe on 5 November 2026, according to Reuters as cited by AeroTime. Fighter aircraft escorted flights in France, Italy and Bulgaria, three flights diverted, and security inspections took place at airports across the continent. Passengers on Aer Lingus, Finnair, Ryanair, Wizz Air and LOT Polish Airlines flights were among those affected.

Escorts and diversions

AeroTime reports that an Aer Lingus Airbus A320 flying from Dublin to Rome, flight EI402, was diverted to Évreux-Fauville Air Base in Normandy, according to the office of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. It landed shortly after 10:00 local time with 151 passengers and six crew, who were moved to safety while military bomb-disposal specialists examined the aircraft. The French Air and Space Force said it sent aircraft to escort the airliner.

In Italy, two Eurofighters escorted Finnair flight AY1761 from Helsinki to Rome Fiumicino, where it landed as scheduled and was inspected. A Finnair spokesperson told Yle that nothing unusual was found.

Wizz Air flight W4 6387 from Milan Malpensa to Warsaw diverted to Vienna, as did Finnair AY1471 from Helsinki, which was also targeted. In Bulgaria, Ryanair flights FR3606 from Copenhagen and FR6410 from Madrid landed at Sofia, while FR1730 from London Stansted diverted to Plovdiv. All landed safely.

Searches across the continent

Czech police reported threats against four aircraft approaching Prague. They assessed the threats as low-credibility, and searches after landing found no explosives. In Brussels, LOT flight LO235 from Warsaw was inspected by its crew and then by Belgian authorities, with nothing dangerous found.

Romania reported a threat against Wizz Air flight W43064 from Milan to Bucharest, which landed with 182 passengers and seven crew. Romania's intelligence service said passengers were taken into the terminal while specialists checked the aircraft. Copenhagen Police also responded to suspicious circumstances involving two arriving aircraft; no suspicious items were found, and police did not say whether explicit bomb threats were involved.

AeroTime's later update cited further alerts in Poland, Italy and Austria. LOT flight LO331 from Warsaw to Paris was stopped while taxiing, one runway at Warsaw Chopin was temporarily closed, and passengers were to continue on a replacement aircraft. The report also mentioned Aegean Airlines flight A3552 from Thessaloniki landing at Milan Malpensa, though the text provided was cut off at that point.

Context

The incidents came two days after a similar series of threats on 3 November 2026 against Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT and SAS flights, when searches also found no explosives. Authorities have not publicly identified those responsible or established whether the incidents are connected.

What this means for travellers

• Affected flights may be diverted, held for inspection or replaced with another aircraft, as happened with LOT's Paris service.
• Passengers on diverted flights may be taken off the aircraft and into terminals while checks take place.
• Most airport operations were reported as unaffected, though Warsaw briefly closed a runway and Rome saw a pause in departures, according to Flightradar24.
• Anyone due to fly should check flight status with their airline before travelling to the airport.

The sources do not say how long delays lasted or what compensation or rebooking arrangements were offered.

Sources: AeroTime