More than 20 flights across Europe were disrupted by a wave of bomb threat emails during the week leading to November 5, 2026, affecting airlines and airports in multiple countries. Flight diversions and airport closures occurred in the Czech Republic, Italy, France, and Bulgaria, with over a dozen flights impacted specifically on Thursday, November 5, following threats on at least seven flights and one cruise ship two days earlier.
Scope and Timing of Flight Disruptions
On Thursday, November 5, four flights were diverted within the Czech Republic while two were diverted in Italy due to bomb threat emails. In total, at least 14 planes faced diversions
or cancellations that day, including an Aer Lingus flight initially bound for Rome that was rerouted to France, and two flights originating in Spain and Denmark that diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria. Earlier on Tuesday, November 3, similar threats affected seven flights and a cruise ship.
Nature of the Bomb Threats
Authorities reported that the threats were communicated anonymously via email to multiple airports and logistics companies. Václav Havel Airport Prague confirmed it received an anonymous email warning of bombs on four flights. Czech police verified that similar messages were widely sent to other European airports. In Italy, threats directed at a logistics hub cooperating with
Rome Fiumicino Airport came from an anti-feminist group calling itself “The Male State,” which falsely claimed explosive devices were placed on flights from Helsinki and Dublin to Rome. The Rome Fiumicino Airport spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the threat email screenshot shared with the media.
Flight Diversions and Airport Responses
Flight disruptions forced diversions to airports including France and Sofia, Bulgaria. Four flights were rerouted within the Czech Republic and two flights in Italy on November 5 due to the bomb threats. Fighter jets were scrambled by some countries to respond to the perceived threats. Airport closures and heightened security measures caused delays and operational
challenges. Airlines such as Aer Lingus experienced diversions, highlighting the widespread impact of the hoax threats across Europe.
Background and Analysis of Threats
The threats have been declared hoaxes after exhaustive searches found no explosive devices. “The Male State,” tied to some of the Italian threats, is known as a misogynist extremist group created in Russia in 2016, banned as extremist by a Russian court in 2021. Security analysts suggest these coordinated bomb threat emails could be part of a broader disinformation or hybrid warfare campaign possibly linked to Russian state actors aiming to destabilize Europe. Eric Schouten, head of aviation security group Dyami, indicated
that the scale and timing of these incidents align with efforts to disrupt essential services in countries supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Impact on Passengers and Flights
Passengers and crew on at least 14 flights were affected by diversions on November 5, 2026. The rerouting of flights, along with airport closures, caused delays in travel plans across several European nations. Fighter jets scrambled in some countries contributed to operational response delays. Travel on affected routes from Spain, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Italy was disrupted by security protocols and flight re-routing.
Official Statements and Security Measures
A Václav Havel Airport representative confirmed the receipt of anonymous threat emails,
while a Czech Police spokesperson acknowledged similar emails were sent to various European airports. Rome Fiumicino Airport verified the threat email’s authenticity. Keith Jeffries, former Federal Security Director at Los Angeles International Airport, said, “All airports will have bomb threat management plans, and they’ll train to that plan,” ensuring swift responses. UK Transport Minister Heidi Alexander called the threats a “malicious hoax” and stated that “established processes for dealing with hoax and malicious threats” were activated. Aviation cybersecurity CEO Eliran Almog noted the coincidence of these threats with cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems across Europe, pointing to a broader disruption
strategy.
Airport Preparedness and Broader Context
European airports maintain comprehensive bomb threat management plans and conduct regular training to handle such threats effectively. These recent incidents demonstrate coordinated attempts to disrupt critical services, coinciding with cyberattacks on food supply infrastructure. The security community remains alert to hybrid threats aimed at destabilizing European operations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
