Bomb threats force planes into emergency landings at several European airports

CBC News

· Posted: Nov 05, 2026 5:53 AM EST | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Bomb threats forced airliners to make unplanned landings across Europe on ‌Thursday morning, the latest in a series of threats targeting flights in Europe.

Four airplanes heading to Prague received ‌bomb threats on Thursday ​and police were preparing ​for their landing, Czech police ​said on ⁠X, ⁠adding ‌they assessed the credibility of the threats ⁠as low.

"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 said. "After ​landing, ⁠all aircraft will undergo pyrotechnic inspections."

Bulgarian ⁠officials reported three aircraft making emergency landings because of bomb threats.

Airplanes flying from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia, the interior ‌minister said, according to broadcaster bTV.

A third aircraft, from London, landed in Plovdiv, local media said.

Polish airlines LOT said on Thursday that a ‌flight from Warsaw to Brussels landed safely at its ​destination after a ​security warning and no threat was confirmed.

"Following ​receipt of information ⁠regarding a ⁠potential security ‌threat to flight LO235 from Warsaw to Brussels, the flight ⁠crew was notified of the situation and conducted ‌an onboard inspection in accordance with established procedures. No suspicious items ​were found," a LOT ⁠spokesperson said.

Unclear who's responsible for threats

The aircraft landed ⁠at Brussels Airport, ⁠where ⁠security services ​carried out an additional inspection ​of ⁠the plane.

Aer Lingus flight EI402 from Dublin to Rome landed safely at Evreux ​airport, 100 km west of Paris, ​after being diverted as a security precaution, the Irish airline said in a statement.

A Finnair plane from Helsinki was safely escorted to its scheduled landing in Rome by the Italian air force, a source close to the matter said.

On Tuesday, at least seven flights and a cruise ship received bomb ​threats, causing disruption at airports across Europe, although no devices were discovered.

• String of bomb threats on flights, cruise ship disrupt travel across Europe

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While ⁠no country has attributed blame for the threats, they come at ⁠a time when European officials have been blaming ⁠both Russia ⁠and Iran for what ​they describe as "hybrid attacks" and acts of sabotage. Moscow and Tehran ​both deny any ⁠such campaign.

Drone incursions have periodically forced flight delays and cancellations in Europe and, this week, unidentified hackers shut down fridges in supermarkets in several countries across the continent. Some experts said hoax bomb threats could be part of a similar pattern of low-cost, deniable disruption ⁠efforts.