More than 20 flights across Europe experienced disruptions this week following a series of bomb threats targeting several airports, including Václav Havel Airport Prague and Rome Fiumicino Airport. At least 14 flights were affected on Thursday, with four flights diverted in the Czech Republic and two in Italy. Additionally, flights from Spain and Denmark were rerouted to Sofia, Bulgaria. On Tuesday, seven flights were forced to change course due to similar threats.
Threat Delivery and Airport Responses
The bomb threats were communicated primarily via anonymous emails sent to multiple European airports. Václav Havel Airport Prague reported receiving emails threatening bombs on four flights. In Italy,
the threats came through a logistics company associated with Rome Fiumicino Airport, where an anti-feminist group called “The Male State” claimed explosives were placed on flights originating from Helsinki and Dublin. Authorities have confirmed the emails’ authenticity but have found no actual explosives on the aircraft.
European airports maintain bomb threat management protocols and conduct regular training exercises to respond swiftly to such incidents. Keith Jeffries, former Federal Security Director at Los Angeles International Airport, noted that airports have established plans and train to implement them effectively to make timely decisions when bomb threats arise.
Official Assessments and Possible Motives
European officials and security experts
have suggested the threats may be part of a broader campaign of hybrid aggression or psychological warfare. Eric Schouten, head of the aviation security firm Dyami, linked the disruptions to patterns associated with Russian state actors, citing parallel cyberattacks on European infrastructure. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described the situation as likely hybrid aggression aiming to destabilize Europe.
Irish official Simon Harris stated that investigations are ongoing, and it remains unclear whether an individual or a coordinated group orchestrated the threats. The European Union said it was premature to confirm connections between the incidents. German foreign ministry spokespersons referenced
ongoing security challenges tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, mentioning similar threats and cyberattacks affecting supply chains and airspace security.
Passenger and Media Impact
The bomb threat hoaxes caused significant disruptions for passengers and airline operations. On Thursday, at least 14 flights, including an Aer Lingus flight to Rome that was diverted to France, underwent rerouting or cancellations. Additional flights from Spain and Denmark were forced to divert to Sofia, Bulgaria. Earlier on Tuesday, seven flights were similarly affected.
Media organizations were also affected by the threats. Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ, evacuated its offices after receiving a bomb threat linked to those targeting multiple
media companies, including Sky. These evacuations disrupted typical broadcasting operations and heightened concerns about the scope of the threats.
Context of Concurrent Security Threats
These bomb threat incidents coincide with other hybrid attacks across Europe. Cyberattacks have targeted supermarket refrigeration systems, causing economic harm and undermining public confidence. Aviation cybersecurity leader Eliran Almog of Cyviation noted the alignment of these aviation threats with broader disruptions affecting critical services during the same period.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely while maintaining security protocols to prevent further disturbances. Despite the scale of the disruptions, no explosive devices have been discovered, and aviation operations remain safeguarded against
these malicious hoaxes.
