Seven European passenger flights were disrupted on 3 November 2026 following bomb threat alerts that resulted in searches, diversions, military escorts, and temporary airport closures. Authorities found no explosives on any aircraft after security checks confirmed the threats were hoaxes.
Flights and Routes Affected
The flights involved were operated by LOT Polish Airlines, Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Scandinavian Airlines. Routes affected included London Heathrow to Warsaw, Copenhagen to Warsaw, Manchester to Murcia, Lisbon to Rome, Dublin to Rome, Bergamo to Sofia, and Dublin to Sofia. A LOT Polish Airlines flight from Heathrow was diverted from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Warsaw Modlin Airport, which suspended
operations temporarily for the inspection. The Scandinavian Airlines Copenhagen to Warsaw flight landed normally at Chopin with one runway temporarily closed.
Security Responses and Military Escorts
Security officials conducted searches on two Ryanair flights arriving at Rome Fiumicino Airport from Lisbon and Dublin. The Dublin flight was escorted by two Italian Air Force Eurofighters. A Ryanair flight carrying 121 people from Manchester to Murcia was evacuated without passengers’ belongings after bomb threat claims. Two flights to Sofia, Wizz Air from Bergamo with 176 passengers and Ryanair from Dublin with 186 passengers, underwent inspections without diversions. Hungarian Defence Forces escorted a Wizz Air flight from London
Luton to Sofia to Budapest a day prior under similar threat circumstances.
Official Statements and Findings
Officials confirmed no explosives were found on any of the flights. Adam Szablowski, spokesman for Modlin Airport, stated that nothing was found after the LOT flight inspection. SAS spokesperson Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji confirmed the Copenhagen to Warsaw flight experienced a bomb threat and landed normally with the situation managed by Polish police. Bulgarian Transport Minister Georgi Peev announced inspections on Sofia-bound flights yielded no explosives. The Italian Air Force verified the scramble of two Eurofighters to escort the Dublin-Rome Ryanair flight. The British government classified the incidents as
malicious hoax threats. Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi confirmed the Gripen fighter escort for the Wizz Air flight diverted to Budapest.
Passenger Impact and Aviation Procedures
Passengers on the Manchester to Murcia flight were unaware of the threat during flight but were evacuated upon landing, leaving belongings behind. The return Ryanair flight Murcia to Manchester was delayed by approximately three and a half hours due to ongoing checks. Aviation security protocols require bomb threats to be treated as credible until resolved, involving ground searches and possible diversions. Former pilot and aviation expert Marco Chan explained that crews consider bomb threats genuine until thoroughly investigated, despite
many turning out to be hoaxes.
Ongoing Investigations and Security Context
Authorities are investigating whether the threats, distributed across several countries and airlines, were coordinated attempts at disruption. Although no official link has been established, European officials are cooperating to assess potential connections. These incidents follow a trend of hybrid attacks and sabotage attempts in Europe, but no organization or state actor has claimed responsibility. The scale of the security response reflects standard procedures rather than evidence of any active explosives.
