Seven passenger flights across Europe were affected by bomb threats on Tuesday (November 3), including two services departing from the UK, after threats were made against planes operating between major European cities. Authorities subsequently confirmed all of the warnings to be hoaxes.
UK Flights Diverted and Met by Emergency Services
A LOT Polish Airlines service from Heathrow to Warsaw was redirected to Warsaw Modlin Airport, while a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Murcia was greeted by emergency services upon touching down in Spain, The Mirror reports.
Flight LO286 from London Heathrow to Warsaw Chopin Airport was diverted to Warsaw Modlin Airport after an alert was raised about a potential bomb on board. The flight, which had 181 passengers, landed safely seven minutes later.
Security Responses at European Airports
Warsaw Modlin Airport was temporarily shut down as emergency crews were deployed to the aircraft and were able to rule out the bomb threat at 12.21pm, the airport confirmed. A spokesperson for LOT Polish Airlines confirmed that no suspicious items were discovered during a security inspection of the aircraft. "Following border control checks, passengers were transferred to Warsaw Chopin Airport by coach," they added.
A Ryanair flight travelling from Manchester to Murcia was met by emergency services on Tuesday after a bomb threat triggered a major security response at the airport. Passengers and crew were evacuated from the aircraft while specialist teams carried out searches. Francisco Lucas, the Spanish government's representative in the Murcia region, confirmed the operation involved 114 passengers and seven crew members. The Guardia Civil subsequently found no evidence of explosives on board, Mr Lucas said, enabling the airport to resume normal operations.
Other Flights Affected Across Europe
Security protocols were triggered at Warsaw Chopin Airport after officials received intelligence indicating that a potentially hazardous item may have been aboard an incoming Scandinavian Airlines service from Copenhagen. Flight SK751 took off from the Danish capital shortly after 8am local time, touching down in Warsaw approximately an hour later. Airport authorities responded by putting precautionary safety measures in place and temporarily shutting one of the airport's runways. Piotr Rudzki, acting director of Warsaw Airport's communications office, confirmed that established security procedures were immediately set in motion. SAS spokeswoman Alexandra Lindgren Kaokju stated that the aircraft landed without any incident and was not required to make an emergency landing. "The passengers disembarked, the plane landed normally; it was not an emergency landing," she said. She further noted that the airline was concentrating on supporting passengers and crew, and that the matter had been handed over to the Polish police.
A Wizz Air flight from Bergamo, Italy, touched down in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, following notification of a potential bomb threat via email, the Bulgarian interior ministry confirmed. The aircraft, which had 176 passengers on board, was subsequently found to be free of any explosives. A Ryanair flight departing from Dublin, carrying 185 passengers, touched down in Sofia without incident after a bomb threat was made against the aircraft. Neither of the two Sofia-bound flights that received threats were redirected.
A Ryanair flight originating from Lisbon arrived at Rome's Fiumicino Airport following an email claiming there was an explosive device on board. Police bomb disposal teams conducted thorough security checks of passengers, crew members and luggage, with no explosives discovered. A separate email was sent to Rome Fiumicino Airport alleging that a bomb was on board an inbound Ryanair flight from Dublin. Italian military jets accompanied the aircraft to the airport, where identical ground security procedures were undertaken. An official confirmed that no explosives were found.
