Bomb threats disrupt flights across Europe as airlines divert planes and airports halt operations

Bomb threats disrupt flights across Europe as airlines divert planes and airports halt operations - A Ryanair aircraft, one of the airlines affected by bomb threats targeting several flights across Europe on November 3, 2026. (Photo: Ryanair)

Several airlines were affected by bomb alerts across five European countries, triggering flight diversions, airport closures and security inspections, although no explosives were found.

A wave of bomb threats disrupted passenger flights across Europe on Tuesday, forcing airlines to divert aircraft, temporarily suspend airport operations and conduct extensive security checks.

The threats affected flights operated by Ryanair, LOT Polish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines and Wizz Air, triggering security operations in several countries. However, authorities found no explosives on any of the aircraft inspected.

Poland experienced some of the most significant disruption, with two separate flights bound for Warsaw subjected to security procedures.

A LOT aircraft travelling from London's Heathrow Airport was diverted to Modlin Airport following a bomb threat, prompting a temporary suspension of operations at the airport. Passengers were later taken through border control before arrangements were made to transport them by coach to Warsaw's Chopin Airport.

“The aircraft security inspection has been completed, with no suspicious items found,” LOT said in a statement.

Chopin Airport also received a bomb alert involving a Scandinavian Airlines flight from Copenhagen. The aircraft landed normally before passengers disembarked for security checks. The alert prompted authorities to temporarily close one runway as they responded to the threat.

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In Italy, two Ryanair flights bound for Rome were targeted by separate bomb reports. One had departed from Lisbon, while the other was travelling from Dublin.

Both aircraft landed at Rome's Fiumicino Airport, where police bomb disposal specialists searched the planes, passengers, crew members and luggage. The Dublin flight was escorted by the Italian Air Force before landing, adding to the security measures triggered by the threat.

A similar alert affected a Ryanair flight travelling from Manchester to Murcia in southern Spain. The aircraft landed at Murcia Airport with 121 people on board, including crew members. Spanish authorities subsequently inspected the plane and screened passengers and crew before ruling out the presence of explosives.

Bulgaria also responded to two separate bomb threats involving aircraft arriving at Sofia Airport from Bergamo in Italy and Dublin in Ireland. Both planes landed without being diverted and were inspected by officers from the country's specialised counterterrorism unit.