On November 3, 2026, at least seven bomb threat hoaxes targeting European passenger flights caused widespread operational disruptions at airports in Poland, Italy, Spain, and Bulgaria. Each incident triggered searches and security checks, with no explosives discovered on any aircraft, according to Jetsetter Guide reports.
Flights and Routes Affected
The affected flights included a LOT Polish Airlines service from London Heathrow that was diverted from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Warsaw Modlin Airport. Additionally, a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight from Copenhagen landed normally at Warsaw Chopin Airport but prompted the closure of one runway for inspections.
In Italy, two Ryanair flights arriving at Rome Fiumicino
Airport from Lisbon and Dublin were subjected to bomb disposal checks. The flight from Dublin received a military escort by two Italian Air Force Eurofighter jets. A separate Ryanair flight from Manchester to Murcia, Spain, carrying 121 people, underwent inspection after a bomb threat, while two Sofia-bound flights—one operated by Wizz Air from Bergamo with 176 passengers and another Ryanair flight from Dublin with 186 passengers—were cleared following security checks.
Operational Responses to Threats
Warsaw Modlin Airport was temporarily closed after the LOT Polish Airlines flight diversion, resuming normal operations once no device was found. At Warsaw Chopin Airport, one runway was closed to
facilitate inspections after the SAS flight arrival. In Rome, police and bomb disposal teams conducted thorough searches of the Ryanair flights, while the Italian Air Force scrambled Eurofighter jets to escort the Dublin to Rome Ryanair flight as a precaution.
Bulgarian border police activated standard procedures following an email reporting improvised explosive devices aboard the Sofia-bound flights. Authorities convened operational headquarters to coordinate responses. Ryanair recalled a replacement aircraft from Alicante to operate the delayed return Murcia to Manchester flight, which was anticipated to be delayed by approximately three and a half hours due to the security checks.
Passenger Disruptions and Evacuations
Passengers were
evacuated after landing from affected flights without their belongings pending security checks. Sarah, a passenger on the Manchester to Murcia Ryanair flight, said travelers were unaware of the threat in flight and learned it was a bomb threat only after evacuation. Passengers and crew across all impacted flights underwent intensified security screening, leading to delays and uncertainty during disembarking and subsequent ground operations.
Official Statements and Investigations
LOT Polish Airlines stated nothing was found on their diverted flight’s aircraft. SAS confirmed its Copenhagen to Warsaw flight landed normally, with passengers safely disembarked. Bulgarian Transport Minister Georgi Peev confirmed no explosives were detected on Sofia-bound
flights, while the Italian Air Force acknowledged scrambling Eurofighter jets to escort the Ryanair flight from Dublin.
The British government classified the incidents as malicious hoax threats. Authorities from multiple countries are cooperating to investigate whether these bomb threats are connected, although no official links have been established. These events follow a separate bomb threat on November 2 against a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia, which was diverted to Budapest under Hungarian fighter escort and found clear of explosives.
Former airline pilot and aviation lecturer Marco Chan emphasized that bomb threats are treated as genuine until resolved
despite most turning out to be hoaxes, highlighting the stringent, multi-step security processes triggered by such alerts.
