At least seven flights and the Panama-flagged Crown Iris cruise ship were targeted by bomb threats across Europe on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The threats led to airport disruptions including flight diversions, temporary closures, and security searches, although no explosives were found in any case.
Flights and Airports Targeted by Threats
A LOT Polish Airlines flight from London intended for Warsaw Chopin Airport was diverted to Warsaw Modlin Airport, which temporarily closed before reopening after a security search detected no device. An SAS flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw landed safely at Chopin and also underwent a security check that confirmed no threat.
Two flights arriving in
Sofia, Bulgaria, were threatened: a Wizz Air flight from Milan/Bergamo carrying 176 passengers and a Ryanair flight from Dublin with 186 passengers on board. Both landed safely and were cleared after inspections. The Bulgarian Transport Ministry confirmed these bomb threats.
On November 2, a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest Airport after a bomb threat. Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi reported that the flight was escorted to Budapest by a Hungarian Gripen fighter jet.
Ryanair flights from Lisbon and Dublin to Rome Fiumicino Airport were searched following bomb threats on Tuesday morning. The Dublin
flight, arriving at 1030 CET, was escorted by the Italian Air Force. Another Ryanair flight from Manchester landed at Murcia International Airport, where security evacuated and cordoned off parts of the terminal. The 121 people aboard the Manchester flight, including 114 passengers and 7 crew, were safely disembarked, with no explosives detected. Spain’s Murcia airport resumed normal operations after the threat was dismissed.
An EL AL flight from Tel Aviv to Sofia was also the subject of a previous bomb threat on October 18. On the Greek island of Syros, the Crown Iris cruise ship was searched by Greek Coast
Guard detectives and explosives detection dogs after a warning about a device attached to its hull proved unfounded.
Security Responses and Official Statements
Authorities responded rapidly with airport closures and security sweeps. Warsaw Modlin Airport was temporarily shut during the LOT flight search, while Chopin Airport’s operations continued after confirming the lack of explosives. In Italy, Ryanair flights into Rome were escorted by Italian Air Force jets. Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighters also escorted an Austrian Airlines flight diverted to Sofia on October 18 after a bomb threat over Romania.
Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry confirmed bomb threats against the Milan/Bergamo and Dublin flights to Sofia. Francisco
Lucas, regional delegate at Murcia Airport, confirmed activation of threat protocols and coordination with security services. The Hungarian Defence Ministry and Chopin Airport spokespersons verified deviations and security measures. Officials confirmed all threats were hoaxes with no dangerous devices found. None of the affected airlines responded to media inquiries.
Analysis of Motives and Context
Rhys Jones, Analysis Output Manager at Osprey Flight Solutions, described the seven bomb threats in a single day as exceptional and consistent with an aim to disrupt aviation broadly rather than targeting specific countries, airlines, or routes.
Eric Schouten, head of the aviation security group Dyami, linked the incidents to a
wider pattern of hybrid attacks in Europe, citing recent sabotage acts such as hacking refrigeration units in supermarkets. He suggested these coordinated disruptions align with efforts by Russian state actors to unsettle European infrastructure.
Impact on Travelers and Security Measures
Passengers on affected flights faced diversions, delays, and extended security checks at multiple airports including Warsaw, Sofia, Rome, Budapest, and Murcia. These measures created logistical challenges such as ground stops, re-routing to alternate airports, and partial closures of terminal areas. Passengers were kept in arrival halls pending security clearance. Travel insurance coverage may vary in cases of security-related disruption, affecting reimbursement for missed connections or additional
expenses.
Scope and Attribution Remain Undetermined
Authorities have not identified any individuals or groups responsible for the threats, and no claims of responsibility have been made. The total number of affected flights beyond those officially confirmed is unknown. Officials and airlines have emphasized that no explosives were found and no passengers or staff were harmed during the incidents.
