Bomb threats disrupted flights operated by several European airlines on 5 November, prompting diversions, fighter escorts and security inspections. An Aer Lingus service from Dublin to Rome landed at the Évreux military airbase in France after French fighters accompanied it, while a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw diverted to Vienna. Checks found no explosives in the cases reported, and authorities had not established who was responsible or whether the incidents were linked.
Ryanair, Finnair, LOT and Aegean were also among the carriers affected. Some aircraft landed at their scheduled destinations and were inspected; others were diverted or, in LOT’s case, stopped before departure. Reports differed on the number of flights involved, so no single total is established here. Similar threats had affected at least seven flights earlier in the week.
The response varies with the circumstances of each threat. Airlines and authorities coordinate security measures, which can include additional checks, diversion or evacuation. The British Airline Pilots’ Association has described a threat-assessment procedure, but the material available does not establish a single process used across the industry.
Some messages reportedly claimed to come from “Male State” or “Men’s State”, but a connection to the Russian far-right movement of that name was not confirmed. The EU transport commissioner cautioned that it was too early to determine whether the incidents were connected. Earlier waves of threats have affected flights in Europe and India, but the extent to which reporting or publicity may prompt copycat threats remains unestablished.