Four European flights targeted by hoax bomb threats

A series of false bomb threats disrupted air travel across Europe on Tuesday, targeting four separate flights and forcing the temporary closure of a major airport in Warsaw. Authorities confirmed that all targeted aircraft landed safely and that no explosives were discovered during subsequent inspections.

Two of the incidents involved flights destined for the Polish capital. Scandinavian Airlines reported a threat against flight SK751, which was traveling from Copenhagen. The aircraft arrived at Warsaw Chopin Airport, where one runway was closed for a security sweep. The airline stated that the plane landed normally and passengers disembarked without incident.

A second flight, operated by Polish carrier LOT and departing from London Heathrow, was also part of the Tuesday disruptions. Although originally scheduled to arrive at Chopin, the Boeing 737 MAX was diverted to Warsaw Modlin Airport. Authorities closed Modlin following the alert, but the plane landed safely. Adam Szablowski, a spokesman for Modlin Airport, told AFP that passengers were evacuated for checks and nothing was found. He added that the airport has since reopened and is operating normally.

In a third incident, Spanish airport operator Aena confirmed that emergency protocols were activated for a Ryanair flight traveling from Manchester in the United Kingdom to Murcia in southeastern Spain. The flight landed without issue, and the emergency plan was lifted after the Spanish Civil Guard completed its checks.

The fourth target was a Wizz Air flight from Bergamo, Italy. A spokesperson for the Bulgarian interior ministry told AFP that the aircraft was inspected after landing at 9:10 a.m. GMT in Sofia. This incident follows a similar event on Monday, when a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest due to a bomb threat.

Hungarian Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi detailed the Monday response on Facebook, noting that NATO’s air defense alert service issued an alert for the Luton-bound flight. He stated that Hungarian Gripen fighter jets took to the air within minutes to ensure the safe landing of the passenger aircraft in Budapest.

This surge in hoax threats arrives one month after a dramatic incident involving a flydubai jet bound for Israel. During that event, a copilot attacked the captain with an axe in an attempt to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport. The attack was thwarted when the captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and relief pilots to take control and land the aircraft safely.

In response to the recent string of incidents, authorities have moved to tighten security protocols. New rules announced this week require both foreign and Israeli airlines to submit crew information 48 hours prior to departure. These measures follow a review of security directives for incoming flights to Israel.

The latest series of disruptions highlights the ongoing vigilance required in European aviation, with various national authorities coordinating to manage the risks posed by unverified security alerts. Despite the temporary chaos and closures, the coordinated response ensured that all passengers and crew on the four targeted flights reached their destinations safely.