Bomb threat hoaxes disrupted at least 34 flights across Europe this week, with 25 threats occurring on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Disruptions affected flights across Italy, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, France, Poland, Finland, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Serbia, and Czechia.
Airlines and Flight Diversions
Flights operated by Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Wizz Air, Finnair, easyJet, Aegean Airlines, Iberia, Sky Express, Air Serbia, and LOT Polish Airlines were targeted. An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to Évreux Airport in France, where French authorities questioned its pilot for initially refusing to land at the military airport. A Ryanair flight from Pescara
to Brussels-Charleroi was inspected after the word “bomb” was found written on the toilet walls onboard. A Ryanair flight from London Stansted was delayed following an anonymous phone bomb threat received at Cork Airport. Bomb threats also targeted flights at Heathrow and Birmingham airports, which were deemed hoaxes after police investigations.
Origin and Content of Threats
Emails containing bomb threats sent to Rome Fiumicino and Sofia airports were signed by the “fighters of the Male State,” a Russian far-right misogynistic extremist movement banned in 2021. Founded in 2016 by Vladislav Pozdnyakov, Male State backs the war in Ukraine. The threat emails declared: “We, the fighters
of the Male State, will make history with our actions today. Your feminist regime will remember this for ever. The explosion will occur in 60 minutes. Today, your skies will turn red.” Pozdnyakov did not claim direct responsibility for the bomb alerts.
Security and Police Responses
The Metropolitan police’s aviation police command investigated bomb threats at Heathrow and Birmingham airports, confirming them as hoaxes with no security issues found. Authorities conducted searches of affected aircraft but found no explosives or suspicious items. The incidents caused operational delays and required coordinated security responses at multiple airports. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto characterized the threats as
“under-threshold warfare,” designed to avoid attribution while stoking tensions.
Broader Context and Official Statements
The bomb threat hoaxes occurred amid a wider pattern of disruption, including recent cyberattacks targeting European supermarket refrigeration systems. Nick Careen, IATA’s senior vice-president for operations, safety and security, condemned the disruptions: “Safety is the number one priority for the industry and we take all threats seriously.” EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas stated it was too early to determine links between incidents but affirmed that “any threats against civilians are unacceptable.” Authorities found no conclusive proof linking the hoaxes to state actors like Russia or Iran, though investigations continue. Real-time availability
of flight and aircraft data online may have helped hoaxers simulate credible threats.
