False bomb threats affect at least 18 flights in Europe and trigger security alert

A new wave of bomb threats affected at least 18 flights in different European countries this Thursday, including Spain, triggering the deployment of security measures, aircraft diversions, and the intervention of military jets, although authorities ruled out the presence of explosives.

The incidents, recorded on different air routes and European airports, led the European Commission (EC) to activate an information exchange mechanism between the member states of the European Union (EU), with the purpose of strengthening coordination in response to alerts.

The threats occurred after similar situations were reported on Tuesday in several European cities, which has generated concern among civil aviation authorities and security agencies.

Bomb threats affect flights at Madrid airport

In Spain, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport received communications regarding alleged explosives involving three flights: one bound for Paris and two others arriving from Rome and Milan.

According to sources from Aena who informed EFE, the alerts affected two Iberia aircraft and one from Air Europa.

Given the situation, a security committee was established with the participation of the State Security Forces and Corps, which carried out the corresponding evaluations and checks.

After completing the procedures, the authorities ruled out the threats.

Military aircraft escort planes in Europe

One of the most relevant incidents occurred when a plane covering the route between Dublin and Rome was diverted while flying over French territory due to a bomb threat.

According to the France 3 network, two fighter jets intervened and forced the aircraft to land at the Évreux air base, after the pilot initially refused to use the military facility.

The office of the French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, indicated that the head of government himself authorized the deployment of the fighter jets due to the pilot’s lack of cooperation.

Likewise, three Ryanair flights bound for Bulgaria, arriving from Madrid, London, and Copenhagen, were escorted by military aircraft until they completed their landings.

For its part, the Finnish airline Finnair confirmed that one of its flights, with 144 passengers on board, was escorted by Italian fighter jets before landing without incident in Rome.

European airports activate security protocols

The alerts also affected airport facilities in Poland, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.

At Warsaw Chopin Airport, a runway was temporarily closed after a LOT flight bound for Paris received a threat before takeoff.

In Copenhagen, authorities deployed police officers and military bomb disposal specialists due to false alarms related to two aircraft.

Meanwhile, British airports Heathrow and Birmingham received similar communications, subsequently deemed not credible by the authorities.

In these last two cases, airport operations continued without interruptions.

The threats involved airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Finnair, and Aegean Airlines.

European Commission activates coordination mechanism

In light of the succession of incidents, the European Commission announced the activation of an information exchange mechanism between the member countries of the European Union.

The European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, reported that the community authorities are maintaining communication with the affected States and with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

“We are closely monitoring the situation,” stated the official, who considered any threat against the civilian population unacceptable.

However, the European Commission warned that it is still premature to determine whether all the incidents are related to each other.

Authorities rule out explosives in inspected aircraft

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency explained that pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport workers have specialized training to deal with situations of this type.

The agency noted that the immediate risk to operational safety derived from isolated false threats is low, although it will continue to monitor developments.

For its part, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) condemned the attempts to disrupt aviation operations and requested that the authorities investigate the origin of the threats.

So far, the inspections carried out have not detected any explosives or elements that pose a real threat to passengers.

European authorities are continuing to monitor the incidents while seeking to determine their origin and establish whether there is any connection between the alerts recorded in different countries.