At least 27 flights across Europe were disrupted on November 8, 2026, following a series of false bomb threats that caused diversions, emergency landings, and airport evacuations. The incidents occurred between November 4 and November 8, affecting flights and media outlets in over 10 countries.
Flight Diversions and Emergency Landings
An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to the Évreux air base in Normandy, France, with 151 passengers and six crew safely evacuated after security inspections detected no explosives. Two Ryanair flights originating from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia, Bulgaria, under similar threat conditions, while another Ryanair flight from London was
redirected to Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Additionally, four flights to or from Prague, Czech Republic, were diverted due to anonymous bomb threat emails but remained free of explosives.
Evacuations of Media Offices and Other Targets
Media outlets in Dublin were also targeted, including RTÉ, Irish Independent, Newstalk, Today FM, and Virgin Media, all of which were evacuated after receiving bomb threat emails. Similarly, Sky News offices in the United Kingdom underwent evacuation before staff were allowed to return after precautions confirmed no explosives were present. RTÉ attributed its threat email to the same group implicated in the flight disruptions but did not name the group.
Security Responses and Investigations
A Finnair flight from
Helsinki to Rome was escorted by two Italian Air Force fighter jets to Rome Fiumicino Airport following a bomb threat. Italian authorities conducted security checks without finding any explosive devices. The anti-feminist group “The Male State” was identified as the source of a bomb threat email to a logistics company linked to Rome Fiumicino Airport; however, there is no confirmation that this group is responsible for all incidents.
Authorities across Europe have not established connections between all bomb threats and continue treating them as credible. The European Commission, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and national authorities are conducting joint
investigations into the incidents, citing the need for precautionary measures despite the confirmed absence of explosives.
Official Statements on the Bomb Threats
British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called the bomb threat alerts a “malicious hoax” and confirmed the activation of established security protocols. European Commissioner for Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas stated, “It was too soon to determine whether the incidents in different countries were related.” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares characterized the wave of threats as “an attempt at hybrid aggression and psychological warfare.” RTÉ officials confirmed the threats were linked to disruptions in European air traffic but stopped short of attributing full responsibility.
Hybrid Warfare and Ongoing Disruptions
The bomb
threat alerts coincided with other cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure in Europe, including supermarket refrigeration systems and blood bank cold storage. Security officials consider the incidents part of a broader pattern of hybrid aggression combining psychological pressure, disinformation, and cyber elements designed to destabilize European transport and media sectors.
Passengers faced delays, forced diversions, and evacuations, with airports temporarily closing or restricting operations during the security response. These measures impacted tightly interconnected European aviation networks, causing extended travel times and operational challenges across the continent.
