European Airlines Face Fresh Bomb Threats Amid Week of Hoaxes

Passenger flights across Europe faced a new round of bomb threats on Friday, adding to a week of security disruptions that have prompted diversions and military escorts. No suspicious items were found in the latest incidents, and no passengers or crew were injured. The European air traffic authority noted that while the threats are concerning, they have caused minimal disruption to overall aviation operations.

Hungarian defense minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi stated that military fighter jets escorted three passenger planes across the country's airspace within an hour on Friday. The flights, which originated in Brussels and Prague, were bound for Sofia, Cyprus, and Romania. Each aircraft received a bomb threat shortly before entering Hungarian airspace. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's office announced that four additional threats were made against aircraft flying over French territory. Those planes landed safely at Paris' Orly Airport, where bomb disposal experts conducted inspections.

The Czech capital of Prague saw the highest number of affected flights in the latest wave. Spokesperson Denisa Hejtmánková for Vaclav Havel Airport reported that nine flights were threatened, including arrivals from Denmark, Spain, and Britain, and departures to the Netherlands, Cyprus, Romania, Italy, and Britain. Czech police said security measures had a minimal impact on normal airport operations. In Copenhagen, police went to the airport for a second consecutive day as a precautionary measure related to threats against air traffic. They assessed that there was no danger to passengers or others on site.

Eurocontrol, the European air traffic authority, said it was aware of 14 bomb threats on Thursday, representing only 0.05% of the nearly 26,300 flights across the European network that day. The authority reported seven threats on Tuesday. Eurocontrol stated it is monitoring the situation and working with airlines, airports, and navigation providers to mitigate disruption. The organization emphasized its coordination with various stakeholders to ensure safe air traffic flows.

The wave of hoaxes comes as Europe processes other recent disruptions, including attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems and drone incursions. Authorities have not attributed the threats to any specific group or state actor. An email sent Thursday to airport authorities in Rome, reviewed by The Associated Press, purported to come from a group describing itself as anti-feminist and targeting a feminist regime. Another European airport received a similar threat, but it is unclear if it originated from the same sender.

Paul Reuter, vice president of the European Cockpit Association, said bomb threats create unnecessary tension for pilots. He noted that crews review procedures, identify diversion airports, and may carry extra fuel to respond professionally. Reuter described the use of civil aviation for geopolitical disruption as totally unacceptable. Pilots remain prepared to handle such situations despite the added stress.

Security concerns extended to media broadcasters in Ireland. The Dublin headquarters of national broadcaster RTE was evacuated on Friday after a bomb threat. Live broadcasts were replaced with pre-recorded programs while police and sniffer dogs searched the building. Staff returned after a few hours once the area was declared safe. An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force, said it is liaising with media organizations to investigate the threat.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said the threats illustrate how simple it can be to cause disruption and undermine normal society through unconventional activities designed to cause fear. He announced that a very significant security operation would be in place next week when Dublin hosts meetings of the European Political Community and European Union leaders. U.K.-based broadcaster Sky also received a security threat but remained on air while working closely with authorities to ensure the safety of its people and operations.