Fighter jet escorts, flight diversions: What we know about Europe’s wave of hoax bomb threats

More than 30 flights across Europe were disrupted this week by suspected bomb threats, leading to diversions, emergency landings and fighter jet escorts. The incidents have caused significant disruption, but all affected aircraft landed safely and searches found no explosives.

At least 27 flights were affected on Thursday, 5 November, across countries including France, Italy, Spain, Poland and the UK; at least seven flights and a cruise ship had been targeted earlier in the week. Sofia and Milan each recorded six reported incidents, Rome five and Prague four, while Ryanair had eight cases. Authorities have not identified those responsible or established whether the threats were linked, and the EU transport commissioner said it was too early to draw conclusions.