Several flights diverted across Europe after bomb threats, probe underway

Several flights travelling to Italy, Belgium and Bulgaria made emergency or unscheduled landings on Thursday following bomb threats. The incidents came days after similar alerts disrupted European airports and affected a cruise ship, with no explosives found. No country has been blamed for the latest threats.New Delhi,Nov 5, 2026 16:03 ISTSeveral airliners made unscheduled landings across Europe on Thursday morning following bomb threats, marking the latest in a series of similar incidents involving flights in the region, reported international news agency Reuters.The alerts affected aircraft travelling to Italy, Belgium and Bulgaria. They followed threats against at least seven flights and a cruise ship on Tuesday, which disrupted operations at European airports, though no explosive devices were found.Aer Lingus flight EI402, travelling from Dublin to Rome, was diverted to Evreux airport, about 100 km west of Paris. The aircraft landed safely after the diversion was ordered as a security precaution, the Irish airline said.In Belgium, media reports said an aircraft belonging to Polish carrier LOT was made to land at Brussels' Zaventem airport. A Finnair flight from Helsinki was escorted by the Italian air force before landing safely as scheduled in Rome, Reuters reported, citing a source.Bulgarian officials said three aircraft made emergency landings after receiving bomb threats. Flights arriving from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia, Interior Minister said, according to broadcaster bTV. A third plane, which had departed from London, landed in Plovdiv, local media reported. No country has blamed any party for the threats. The incidents have occurred as European officials accuse Russia and Iran of carrying out what they call "hybrid attacks" and acts of sabotage. Moscow and Tehran have denied conducting any such campaign.Unidentified hackers also disabled refrigerators at supermarkets in several European countries this week. Some experts said hoax bomb threats could form part of a comparable pattern of inexpensive disruption efforts designed to make responsibility difficult to establish.The latest threats led to diversions, emergency landings and a military escort across Europe, days after similar alerts caused widespread disruption without the discovery of any explosive devices.- Ends