European air traffic experienced significant disruptions for the third consecutive week, resulting in multiple flight diversions, primarily affecting departures from Italy to Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
Multiple flights were grounded at noon on Thursday due to bomb alerts, with authorities and airlines confirming that a total of twelve flights were affected. This development followed a series of similar alerts on Tuesday, which prompted the activation of enhanced security measures. Fortunately, all flights were able to land safely.
Three Ryanair flights originating in Madrid, Copenhagen, and London-Stansted were diverted to Sofia on Thursday morning due to unfounded bomb threats, according to a spokesperson for the Bulgarian Ministry of Transportation.
Two planes successfully landed in Sofia as intended, whereas a third aircraft, originating from London-Stansted, was rerouted to Plovdiv airport, located east of the capital.
Czech authorities received a threat indicating the presence of improvised explosives on four planes bound for Prague, prompting them to take necessary precautions during the planes' landings. However, the police deemed the threat to have limited credibility.
False bomb alerts prompted security concerns on two international flights, with a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome and a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw being affected. The Wizz Air flight was subsequently diverted to Vienna.
A flight from Helsinki to Rome was escorted into the Italian capital by a combat aircraft and subsequently inspected by explosives experts, according to an airport spokesperson.
Wizz Air clarified that the deviation from standard flight procedures was conducted in accordance with the airline's established security protocols and procedures.
An Aer Lingus flight traveling from Dublin to Rome was redirected to the Évreux air base in northwest France in the morning after French authorities received a bomb threat.
Aer Lingus has confirmed that flight EI402 landed safely and is now taking steps to expedite the transfer of passengers to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.
Air traffic disruptions in Europe continued for a third consecutive day this week, with up to 10 flights receiving false bomb threats on Tuesday. The threats prompted the closure of several airports and the deployment of air force aircraft to ensure the safety of commercial flights.
A Wizz Air flight from London's Luton airport to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, was diverted on Monday due to a reported bomb threat, resulting in an emergency landing in Budapest. The aircraft was escorted by Hungarian fighter jets during the diversion.
Unidentified individuals have triggered a series of bomb alerts across Europe, sparking concerns about the escalating threat of hybrid attacks on the continent, with some investigations suggesting potential links to Russia or Iran.
