At least seven European flights and one cruise ship were targeted by bomb threats on November 3, 2026, resulting in flight diversions and brief airport shutdowns. A LOT Polish Airlines flight from London to Warsaw was diverted to Modlin Airport for a security search, after Warsaw Chopin Airport was briefly closed. No explosives were discovered during these operations, and flights continued after safety checks.
Airlines, routes, and passenger impact
Among the affected flights were two bound for Warsaw, two to Sofia, two to Rome, and one to Murcia Airport in Spain. Two flights to Sofia arrived safely after being threatened: a Wizz Air flight from
Milan/Bergamo carrying 176 passengers and a Ryanair flight from Dublin with 186 passengers. On November 2, a Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest following a bomb threat, confirmed by Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi.
Murcia Airport cordoned off parts of its terminal after a Ryanair flight from Manchester was threatened; no explosives were found, and operations resumed normally. In Rome, two Ryanair flights from Lisbon and Dublin were searched at Fiumicino Airport after bomb threats. The Dublin flight was escorted by the Italian Air Force during landing. None of these searches resulted in finding explosives,
and the airport remained fully operational.
An SAS flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw landed at Chopin Airport without incident on November 3. Additionally, the Panama-flagged Crown Iris cruise ship was inspected using explosives detection dogs and divers near the Greek island of Syros following a bomb threat. Authorities confirmed no devices were found after initial checks.
Official responses and security measures
Warsaw Chopin Airport authorities stated the airport remained operational after the brief shutdown and found no device on the diverted LOT flight from London. Bulgaria’s transport ministry confirmed the two flights to Sofia were inspected thoroughly with no explosives detected. The operator of Rome
Fiumicino Airport, ADR, reported both Ryanair flights were searched following threats, with the alert cleared afterward.
Greek officials confirmed that the Crown Iris cruise ship was searched and no explosives were discovered. Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi publicly acknowledged the diversion of the Wizz Air flight to Budapest after of one of the threats on November 2. None of the affected airlines issued public statements regarding the incidents.
Expert analysis on threat patterns
Rhys Jones, Analysis Output Manager at Osprey Flight Solutions, described seven confirmed bomb threats in one day as exceptional. Jones observed, “The lack of clear target state, airline, or route indicates that
general disruption to aviation operations is the aim.”
Eric Schouten, head of the aviation security group Dyami, linked the threats to broader low-cost disruptions attributed to state actors. He said, “From railways to the food infrastructure that you see happening with the fridges being hacked and all kinds of other operations, it does fit the narrative of Russian state actors who want to disturb Europe.”
Context of broader security challenges in Europe
The bomb threats occurred amid ongoing concerns over hybrid attacks and sabotage directed at European infrastructure. European officials have blamed Russia and Iran for such campaigns, though both countries deny involvement. Recent incidents include hacking
supermarket refrigeration systems across several European nations.
Authorities have not identified any suspects or claimed responsibility for the bomb threats targeting flights and the cruise ship in early November 2026. Their response included flight diversions, airport shutdowns, and deployment of explosives detection teams to ensure passenger safety.
