Multiple planes diverted as bomb threats to commercial flights reported across Europe – as it happened
News Source
•Thu, 05 Nov 2026 17:57:54 GMT
📰 What Happened
About 20 commercial flights across Europe were hit by bomb threats on Thursday, and several planes were diverted or delayed. Airports in Madrid, Prague, Copenhagen, Brussels and London dealt with alerts. A Ryanair flight from London to Cork was held after an anonymous phone threat.
Two aircraft in Copenhagen were inspected after emails, and a flight to Brussels was checked after the word bomb was found in a lavatory. Most alerts turned out to be false, and no devices were found.
🔍 The Backstory
Bulgaria reportedly received emails said to come from a group calling itself Fighters of the Male State. Europe's transport commissioner said it was too early to say whether the threats were linked.
The body representing global airlines condemned attempts to disrupt air travel and urged police to find who sent the messages. Heathrow and Birmingham also had threats earlier in the day that were judged not credible.
🎯 Why It Matters
One hoax can delay thousands of passengers and cost airlines millions, so airports have to treat every threat as real.
About 20 commercial flights across Europe were hit by bomb threats on Thursday, and several planes were diverted or delayed. Airports in Madrid, Prague, Copenhagen, Brussels and London dealt with alerts. A Ryanair flight from London to Cork was held after an anonymous phone threat.
Two aircraft in Copenhagen were inspected after emails, and a flight to Brussels was checked after the word bomb was found in a lavatory. Most alerts turned out to be false, and no devices were found.
Bulgaria reportedly received emails said to come from a group calling itself Fighters of the Male State. Europe's transport commissioner said it was too early to say whether the threats were linked.
The body representing global airlines condemned attempts to disrupt air travel and urged police to find who sent the messages. Heathrow and Birmingham also had threats earlier in the day that were judged not credible.
One hoax can delay thousands of passengers and cost airlines millions, so airports have to treat every threat as real.