On November 5, 2026, multiple bomb threats forced emergency diversions and security measures across European aviation, affecting at least nineteen flights. An Aer Lingus flight EI402 from Dublin to Rome carrying 151 passengers and six crew members was redirected to the French Évreux-Fauville Air Base in Normandy after a bomb threat prompted an in-flight emergency declaration. The French Prime Minister’s Office monitored the situation in real time, and bomb disposal teams cleared the aircraft with no explosives found.
Ryanair flight FR1730, operating from London Stansted to Sofia and scheduled to land at 9:25 AM GMT, diverted to Plovdiv, Bulgaria after
receiving a bomb threat. Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter jets escorted the Ryanair flight. A Wizz Air flight from Milan Malpensa to Warsaw was rerouted to Vienna following a hoax bomb threat, with Wizz Air confirming the diversion followed established safety protocols.
Bulgarian aviation authorities managed three separate bomb threat incidents involving flights to Sofia, evacuating all passengers for thorough inspections. Czech police coordinated emergency landings for four aircraft bound for Prague, conducting pyrotechnic searches on all planes after landing. Czech authorities assessed the threats as low in credibility but activated full security procedures. Italian authorities reported receiving email bomb threats attributed
to a group named “Fighters of the Male State,” which claimed attacks on flights arriving in Rome.
Other flights affected included LOT Flight LO235 from Warsaw to Brussels; a spokesperson confirmed no suspicious objects were found after an onboard inspection. Additionally, a LOT flight LO286 from Heathrow to Warsaw Modlin Airport landed safely shortly after a bomb alarm. Airports including Heathrow and Birmingham received bomb threat warnings but deemed these alerts not credible and continued normal operations. Flights across Finland, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, and Italy experienced delays due to enhanced screening and security measures, with no
explosives confirmed on any of the planes.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander characterized the bomb threats as malicious hoaxes, emphasizing the robustness of aviation security measures. The British Airline Pilots Association detailed standard threat assessment practices, explaining that all threats are graded by assessors as red, amber, or green. When assessed as credible, flight crews are immediately informed and follow established protocols. Joji Waites, director of Flight Safety, Policy and Regulation, noted that “amber is not considered an appropriate assessment if the plane is airborne.” He also affirmed, “If the threat is assessed as credible, the flight crew will be
informed immediately and will carry out company procedures for a credible bomb threat.”
The Aer Lingus statement confirmed the safe landing of flight EI402 and commitment to reaccommodate passengers promptly. Bulgarian police described the threats as of low relevance but maintained all necessary security measures. French authorities deployed air force planes and bomb squads promptly when the Aer Lingus threat was reported. The Met’s Aviation Policing Command in the UK continues to monitor the situation closely.
The incidents on November 5 follow an earlier wave of bomb threats on November 3, which affected at least seven flights and a cruise
ship with no explosives found. European authorities have launched joint investigations to identify the source of these recurring threats amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
