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Third wave of threats targets flights across Europe as probes continue
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
A third wave of bomb threats this week targeted flights to and from Lisbon, Rome, Prague and Sofia, with Hungarian fighter jets escorting three planes. Several media organisations, including Ireland’s RTÉ, were also evacuated after receiving threats, adding to disruption across Europe; authorities have not established a link between the airline and media warnings.
At least 11 flights in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria and four French flights were targeted, and all the French flights landed safely. No explosives had been found on any planes by Friday. The threats follow incidents affecting nearly 30 aircraft and several airports earlier in the week, which the UK called a “malicious hoax”; Ireland’s government described the latest events as a likely coordinated campaign, while the Russian extremist group Male State denied involvement.
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In short
- A third wave of threats targeted flights across Europe.
- Three planes were escorted by Hungarian fighter jets.
- No explosives were found, and Male State denied involvement.
How this story developed
- 38 minutes ago Ireland’s government characterised the threats as a likely coordinated campaign of disruption, following earlier incidents affecting nearly 30 aircraft and several airports that the UK called a “malicious hoax”.
- 48 minutes ago The threats were identified as a third wave this week, targeting flights to and from Lisbon, Rome, Prague and Sofia, while no explosives had been found on any planes and Male State denied involvement.
- 2 hours ago A wave of bomb threats disrupted flights across Europe on Friday, with Hungarian fighter jets escorting three aircraft and several media organisations, including Ireland’s RTÉ, evacuating; authorities had not linked the airline and broadcaster threats.
- Daily Mail Third day of European flights chaos as bomb threats are sent to at least a dozen planes including jets heading to and from Britain
- New York Times Wave of Hoax Bomb Threats to Flights in Europe Leaves Travelers Frustrated
- BBC World Third wave of threats targets flights across Europe as probes continue
Full account
European airlines and several media organisations reported fresh bomb threats on Friday, extending a wave of disruption that authorities said had affected air travel for a third time this week. No explosives had been found on the aircraft by Friday, and the threatened planes landed safely or were escorted while checks were made.
The reports differed on the scale and routes involved. One account said at least nine flights arriving at or departing from Prague were targeted, with threats also affecting flights to Sofia and air traffic at Copenhagen. Another cited at least 11 flights in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, and said four aircraft flying over France received threats. A Ryanair service between Lisbon and Rome was among those mentioned, though another report described a threat on a flight from Rome that landed in Lisbon. Hungarian fighter jets escorted three civilian aircraft, including services from Brussels to Sofia and from Prague to Cyprus and Bucharest.
The warnings also reached newsrooms. In Ireland, RTÉ, the Irish Independent and the Dublin offices of Newstalk and Today FM were evacuated or told to leave; Sky News confirmed it had received a security threat, and Bulgaria’s Nova TV was also named. Messages reported by one outlet threatened further disruption and claimed an explosive had been placed in a media building. Police and broadcasters said they were responding to the warnings, but the accounts did not establish a link between threats to media organisations and those directed at aviation.
Authorities had yet to identify who was responsible. Emails to airports in Rome and Sofia had reportedly been signed in the name of the Russian radical group the Male State, but its founder denied involvement. Irish leaders described the threats as serious and said public safety was the priority; the government characterised the episode as a possible coordinated effort to cause disruption, while acknowledging that it was not clear whether a single group or individuals were behind it. The British government had previously called an earlier round of threats a malicious hoax.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The reports give different counts and geographical scope: one cites at least nine Prague flights and threats to two Sofia-bound flights, while the other gives a total of at least 11 flights in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria and separately reports four aircraft over France.
They describe the Ryanair incident differently: one says a Lisbon-to-Rome departure was threatened, while the other refers to a Rome-to-Lisbon flight that landed in Lisbon.
Coverage of media targets also varies. One report names RTÉ, the Irish Independent, Newstalk, Today FM and Sky; the other additionally names Bulgaria’s Nova TV and quotes threatening emails in more detail.
One account stresses that authorities had found no explosives and that no connection between aviation and newsroom threats had been established. The other foregrounds the scale of disruption and the threatening language in messages. Both report the Male State’s denial of involvement.
Left-leaning outlets 1
Only here: hoax, leaves, travelers, frustrated
Centre outlets 1
Only here: targets, across, probes, continue
Right-leaning outlets 1
Only here: european, chaos, sent, least, dozen
Every side used: threats, flights
Headline columns compared word for word; nothing in them is AI-written.
Explained simply
Airlines, airports and police treat bomb threats seriously, even when they may be hoaxes. A warning can lead to searches, diversions, fighter jets escorting aircraft and evacuations, disrupting travel while checks are made.
The reports concern threats affecting flights in several European countries, as well as warnings sent to some media organisations. Authorities are investigating who made them and whether the incidents are connected; no explosives had been found on the planes by Friday. The Russian extremist group Male State has denied involvement, and investigators have not established a link between the airline and media warnings.
Coverage · 3 sources
Bias meters
From 3 rated sources.
- BBC WorldCentreThird wave of threats targets flights across Europe as probes continue
- Daily MailRightThird day of European flights chaos as bomb threats are sent to at least a dozen planes including jets heading to and from Britain
- New York TimesLeftWave of Hoax Bomb Threats to Flights in Europe Leaves Travelers Frustrated
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by BBC World as “New wave of bomb threats hit European airlines”.