At least seven flights and one cruise ship in Europe faced bomb threats on Tuesday, causing disruptions at several airports. According to Reuters, despite the threats, no explosives were found in any of the cases following extensive searches.
The threats targeted flights destined for Poland, Bulgaria, Italy, and Spain. In the aftermath, Modlin Airport near Warsaw, Poland, was temporarily closed, and the Italian Air Force escorted a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Rome until it landed safely.
Bulgaria's Ministry of Transport announced that two flights from Milan and Dublin to Sofia landed safely after receiving threats, and inspections yielded no results. In Spain, parts of Murcia Airport were temporarily blocked after another Ryanair flight from Manchester was threatened, but officials later confirmed the threat was false.
In addition to the flights, a cruise ship in Greece bound for Israel was also searched after receiving a similar threat. This coordinated wave of threats has raised concerns about aviation security in Europe.
Rhys Jones, head of analysis at the aviation security consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions, said that having seven confirmed bomb threats against flights in a single day is an exceptional event. He suggested the likely goal was to cause widespread disruption to aviation activities and generate public fear.
Eric Schouten, head of the aviation security group Dyami, raised the possibility that the incidents could be linked to the activities of Russian state actors. He argued that such actions are consistent with a pattern of attempting to disrupt critical European infrastructure. However, no individual or group has yet claimed responsibility for the threats, and European officials have not formally accused anyone.
Source: Reuters
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