Bomb Threats Disrupt Flights Across Europe; No Devices Found

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t least seven flights and a cruise ship in Europe received bomb threats on Tuesday, causing disruption at airports across the continent although no devices were discovered, authorities said.

At least two flights bound for Warsaw, two for Sofia, two for Rome and one for Murcia airport in Spain were subjected to the threats on Tuesday, and another flight to Sofia had been threatened a day earlier. An airport in Warsaw was briefly shut down, and the Italian Air Force scrambled to accompany one of the flights to Rome, while an Israel-bound cruise ship was searched for bombs in Greece.

Police used sniffer dogs to inspect a Ryanair plane after a bomb alert at Murcia airport in Spain, footage from the scene showed. Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft and the terminal area while the search was carried out, though no explosive devices were found. The airport resumed normal operations after security teams declared the scene safe.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the threats, which come amid heightened security concerns across European aviation networks. Authorities in the affected countries said investigations were underway to determine the origin of the threats, and officials did not rule out the possibility that the alerts were coordinated.

In Poland, Warsaw’s Chopin Airport was briefly closed after two incoming flights received bomb threats. Airport authorities said the alert was triggered in the morning, prompting security services to isolate part of the terminal and inspect the aircraft involved. Passengers were held on the tarmac while checks were carried out, and the airport reopened after security teams confirmed no suspicious objects were aboard.

A Polish border guard spokesman said the threats had been delivered via email and that procedures for dealing with bomb alerts were followed in full. “Nothing was found that would confirm the threat,” he said, adding that investigators were trying to trace the senders.

Italian jets escort flight

In Italy, the Italian Air Force dispatched fighter jets to accompany one of two flights bound for Rome after a bomb threat was received. The aircraft landed safely at Rome’s Fiumicino airport, where it was escorted to a remote stand and searched by security personnel. No devices were found.

A second flight to Rome also received a threat, Italian media reported, though it was unclear whether that aircraft was also escorted. Airport officials said operations at Fiumicino were not significantly affected and that flights continued to arrive and depart on schedule after the checks were completed.

Two flights bound for the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, were also subject to bomb threats on Tuesday, following a similar threat against another Sofia-bound flight a day earlier. Bulgarian authorities said the aircraft were inspected upon arrival and no explosive devices were found. The airport said it had increased security measures in response to the alerts.

Separately, an Israel-bound cruise ship was searched for bombs in Greece after a threat was received. Greek coast guard and police teams boarded the vessel and carried out a thorough inspection with sniffer dogs, according to local officials. No devices were found, and the ship was cleared to continue its voyage after several hours of delay.

The ship’s operator said in a statement that the safety of passengers and crew was its top priority and that it had cooperated fully with the authorities. Passengers were allowed to remain on board during the search, though some areas of the vessel were cordoned off.

Pattern of threats

Tuesday’s alerts add to a series of bomb threats that have targeted flights and transport hubs across Europe in recent weeks, often delivered by email or phone and frequently turning out to be hoaxes. Security experts say such threats can cause significant economic damage and disruption even when no device exists, as airports are forced to close terminals, divert flights and redeploy security resources.

A European aviation security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no indication that the threats were linked to any known militant group. “At this stage we are treating them as criminal disruptions, but we are not excluding anything,” the official said.

No injuries were reported in any of Tuesday’s incidents, and flight operations at the affected airports had largely resumed by Tuesday evening. Airlines advised passengers traveling to and from the affected destinations to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.

Authorities urged the public to report any suspicious activity and said further security measures could be introduced at airports in the coming days as a precaution.

(Source: Reuters)