Paris, France: Multiple passenger flights across Europe received bomb threats on Thursday, 5 November 2026, prompting emergency diversions, precautionary landings and security inspections at airports in France, Italy, Bulgaria, Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic. Several flights were reported to have been targeted, as authorities responded to another wave of aviation security alerts.
The incidents involved Aer Lingus, Finnair, Wizz Air, Ryanair and LOT Polish Airlines, with four additional Prague-bound aircraft also receiving threats, according to Czech police. Military aircraft were deployed in France and Italy, while airport and law-enforcement authorities activated security procedures across several countries.
Aer Lingus Airbus A320 diverted to French military airbase
The most prominent incident involved Aer Lingus flight EI402, an Airbus A320 travelling from Dublin Airport, Ireland, to Rome Fiumicino Airport, Italy. The aircraft was diverted to Évreux-Fauville Air Base in Normandy, approximately 100 km west of Paris, following a bomb threat.
The aircraft departed Dublin at approximately 06:24 local time and changed course while approaching the Paris region before proceeding towards Évreux. All 151 passengers and six crew members were reported safe following the landing.
The office of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said it was monitoring the situation in real time, while military bomb-disposal teams were deployed to examine the aircraft.
Aer Lingus described the diversion as a “security precaution” and said it would work to reaccommodate passengers at their intended destination.
France’s Air and Space Force confirmed that aircraft had been dispatched as soon as the threat was reported. French media identified the escort aircraft as Rafale fighters.
Finnair flight escorted by Italian Air Force to Rome
A separate threat affected Finnair flight AY1761 from Helsinki, Finland, to Rome Fiumicino. The aircraft received an anonymous bomb-threat report but continued to its scheduled destination under an escort by Italian Air Force fighter aircraft.
The flight landed in Rome at approximately 09:30 local time. Police bomb-disposal specialists subsequently carried out security inspections of the aircraft.
A second Finnair-linked flight, AY1471 from Helsinki to Vienna, also received a bomb threat on 5 November. The aircraft, operated by Jettime on behalf of Finnair, landed safely in Vienna, where passengers disembarked for security checks.
Wizz Air flight diverted from Milan to Vienna
Wizz Air flight W4 6387, operating from Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy, to Warsaw, Poland, was diverted to Vienna International Airport, Austria, after a bomb threat was reported.
The airline confirmed the diversion and said: “The diversion was carried out in accordance with established safety protocols and procedures”.
The aircraft landed in Vienna, where the relevant security procedures were initiated. Further details concerning the aircraft model, passenger numbers and final inspection outcome were not available in the initial reports.
A second Wizz Air service from Milan to Bucharest was also among the flights affected by bomb threats on 5 November. The incident was reported separately from the Wizz Air Milan–Warsaw flight diverted to Vienna, adding another service to the list of affected flights.
Three Ryanair flights receive threats while heading to Sofia
Bulgaria reported three separate bomb threats involving Ryanair flights bound for Sofia.
The first aircraft, operating from Copenhagen Airport, Denmark, landed safely at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport. A second flight from Madrid-Barajas Airport, Spain, also landed at Sofia.
The third service, departing from London Stansted Airport, United Kingdom, was diverted and landed safely at Plovdiv Airport, Bulgaria. Plovdiv Airport CEO Krassimir Peshev confirmed the landing, according to the Associated Press.
Airport officials confirmed the two Sofia arrivals, while Bulgarian authorities implemented the relevant security procedures. The available reports did not establish the origin of the threats or provide a consolidated outcome for all three inspections.
LOT flight from Warsaw lands safely at Brussels
A LOT Polish Airlines flight travelling from Warsaw, Poland, to Brussels, Belgium, also received a suspicious security alert.
The aircraft landed safely at Brussels Airport, also known as Zaventem Airport. Airport spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli confirmed that the airport had received information about a suspicious report involving an incoming LOT flight.
The Federal Police assessed the report and determined that additional security measures were not required.
“The aircraft has now also landed safely,” the airport spokesperson confirmed.
Four Prague-bound aircraft receive bomb threats
Czech police separately reported that four aircraft heading to Prague had received bomb threats on Thursday.
Although authorities assessed the credibility of the warnings as low, police activated security measures before the aircraft arrived. All four aircraft were scheduled to undergo pyrotechnic inspections after landing.
Czech police said: “Nevertheless, we are not underestimating the threat, which is why all necessary security measures have been activated with minimal impact on passengers and airport operations.”
Police added: “After landing, all aircraft will undergo pyrotechnic inspections.”
The authorities did not initially disclose the airlines, flight numbers, aircraft models or departure airports involved in the four incidents.
Military and airport security response
The incidents prompted military deployments and security inspections in several European countries.
France’s Air and Space Force dispatched aircraft following the threat to the Aer Lingus service, while Italian Air Force fighters escorted Finnair flight AY1761 to Rome. Police bomb-disposal specialists were involved in the inspections at Fiumicino and Évreux.
In Bulgaria, airport authorities and security agencies implemented emergency procedures for the three Ryanair services, with two aircraft landing in Sofia and another diverted to Plovdiv. In Belgium, the Federal Police assessed the LOT-related alert and concluded that additional measures were unnecessary.
Czech police activated security measures for the four Prague-bound aircraft, including post-landing pyrotechnic inspections.
The incidents added to operational pressure on European aviation, with aircraft diverted from their scheduled destinations, additional ground inspections and passengers facing delays and uncertainty. However, no injuries were reported in the incidents.
Previous bomb threats across Europe
The latest wave follows a series of similar incidents earlier in the week.
On 2 November, a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest after receiving a bomb threat. Hungarian Gripen fighter jets escorted the aircraft, which subsequently continued to Sofia after security checks.
On 3 November, at least seven flights operated by LOT Polish Airlines, SAS, Ryanair and Wizz Air were affected by bomb threats. A LOT flight from London Heathrow diverted to Warsaw-Modlin, while an SAS service from Copenhagen landed at Warsaw Chopin Airport. Ryanair flights from Manchester, Lisbon and Dublin and Wizz Air and Ryanair services to Sofia were also subjected to security procedures.
The earlier incidents resulted in temporary airport disruption, including the closure of Warsaw-Modlin Airport and a runway closure at Warsaw Chopin. Authorities reported that searches did not uncover explosive devices.
Despite the growing number of incidents, authorities have not publicly established a common source or confirmed whether the latest threats were part of a coordinated campaign.
The 5 November incidents have prompted further security assessments across national borders. No organisation or individual has publicly claimed responsibility, and there is no established evidence attributing the threats to a particular state or group.
The investigation into the origin of the alerts remains separate from the immediate operational response, with airlines, airport operators, police and military authorities following established aviation security procedures.
