Bomb scare sweeps Europe as 7 passenger flights undergo security checks

International

FROM Rome to Warsaw, a string of suspected bomb threats has put aviation authorities across Europe on alert, prompting security inspections of seven passenger aircraft, including flights from the UK.

No explosives have been discovered, but investigations are under way to determine whether the threats were coordinated.

The incidents affected flights in Italy, Spain, Poland and Bulgaria. Although authorities have not established a connection between the threats, officials across the countries are expected to cooperate in determining whether they were part of a coordinated effort.

In Italy, two Ryanair flights from Dublin and Lisbon were searched after landing at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport following anonymous threats. The Dublin flight was escorted by the Italian Air Force. Police bomb disposal teams inspected both aircraft, their passengers and luggage, but found no explosives. The alerts were subsequently cleared.

In Spain, a Ryanair flight from Manchester underwent security checks after landing in Murcia. Passengers were evacuated after emergency personnel arrived, although they had not been informed of the threat during the flight.

One passenger, identified as Sarah, told BBC Radio 5 Live that the aircraft stopped suddenly and remained on the runway for about 30 minutes before fire engines, police and bomb disposal teams arrived. Passengers were then escorted away, leaving their belongings behind. They were only informed of the bomb threat after the evacuation. Spanish authorities confirmed that no explosives were found.

Poland also reported threats against two Warsaw-bound flights, including one from London Heathrow. The Heathrow aircraft was diverted from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Modlin, briefly forcing the smaller airport to close. A Scandinavian Airlines flight from Copenhagen landed at Chopin as scheduled.

In Bulgaria, Transport Minister Georgi Peev said two flights bound for Sofia, originating from Bergamo and Dublin, had been targeted. Neither was diverted, and inspections found no explosives. Border police said an email reporting an improvised explosive device on the Bergamo flight also contained a similar threat against the Dublin service.

Aviation security expert Paul Mason described the incidents as unusual, noting that bomb threats against passenger aircraft are relatively uncommon.

“It sounds like they’ve been made in a credible manner across a broad range of airlines,” Mason said in a BBC report.

He added that crew members and ground personnel must

assess the credibility of threats before deciding whether an aircraft should divert.

Former pilot and Kingston University lecturer Marco Chan said such threats are treated seriously until resolved, even though most prove to be hoaxes. He explained that crews may discreetly inspect aircraft interiors, while suspicious objects are handled according to established safety procedures.

The incidents followed a separate bomb threat involving a Wizz Air flight from London Luton, which made an emergency landing in Budapest under Hungarian fighter jet escort a day earlier. Security checks found nothing.

Separately, 1,537 passengers and crew were evacuated from the Israel-bound cruise ship Crown Iris in Greece after a bomb alert. Initial inspections found no explosives aboard.(MyTVCebu)