Key Notes
- Bomb threats disrupted at least a dozen European flights on November 5, with some aircraft diverted and others searched after reaching their scheduled destinations.
- Four threatened Prague-bound aircraft have landed and been cleared, while the reported searches have not uncovered explosives.
- Authorities have not announced a confirmed source for the aviation threats, and no connection to separate supermarket refrigeration cyberattacks has been established.
An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to a French military air base on Thursday, November 5, as a fresh wave of bomb threats disrupted European air travel. Other aircraft were escorted by fighters or searched at their scheduled destinations. At least a dozen flights were affected.
Four threatened aircraft bound for Prague have landed and been cleared, while checks on a Wizz Air flight in Bucharest also found no explosive device. No explosives had been found in the completed searches reported by authorities, although inspections were not finished everywhere.
Aer Lingus Diverts to a French Air Base
Aer Lingus flight EI402 was heading from Dublin to Rome when it diverted to Évreux air base in Normandy as a security precaution. The airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and said it would arrange onward travel for its customers.
A separate Finnair flight from Helsinki reached Rome Fiumicino with an Italian fighter escort. Checks on the aircraft and baggage found nothing, and airport operations continued normally. Finnair’s Helsinki–Vienna service also landed safely after receiving a threat.
Milan Flights Also Affected
Wizz Air confirmed that flight W46387 from Milan Malpensa to Warsaw diverted to Vienna after a bomb threat received during the flight. Two services arriving at Malpensa were also targeted: Aegean Airlines A3552 from Thessaloniki and Ryanair FR8953 from Porto. Both landed at their intended airport, where police bomb-disposal teams were deployed to inspect them, according to ANSA’s latest update.
In Bucharest, security teams completed their inspection of another Wizz Air aircraft arriving from Malpensa. Romania’s intelligence service said no explosive material was found, local broadcaster Antena 3 CNN reported.
Prague Aircraft Cleared as Checks Spread
Czech police confirmed that all four threatened aircraft arriving in Prague had landed and been searched, with no explosives found. The police update replaces the earlier warning that the planes were still approaching the airport.
- Bulgaria: Ryanair services from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia. A London Stansted flight bound for Sofia diverted to Plovdiv.
- Belgium: LOT’s Warsaw–Brussels service landed as planned. Searches found no suspicious items.
- Poland: A LOT Warsaw–Paris flight was stopped while taxiing, inspected and continued using a different aircraft.
Reuters’ flight summary shows the differing responses. A bomb warning does not necessarily mean an aircraft diverted or an entire airport closed.
More Alerts After This Week’s Earlier Incidents
On November 2, a Wizz Air service from London Luton to Sofia diverted to Budapest with a Hungarian fighter escort. On November 3, further threats prompted checks involving Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT and SAS flights, including services arriving in Rome, Sofia, Murcia and Warsaw. Searches in those earlier incidents did not uncover explosives.
No confirmed perpetrator of the aviation threats has been publicly identified in the reports available for this update. Their timing alone does not establish that all the warnings came from the same source.
Separate cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems have affected European businesses this week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed allegations of Russian involvement in those hacks on November 5. No connection to the flight threats has been established.
What Travelers Should Check
Check your airline’s app, flight-status page and airport departure boards for the specific service and any onward connection. Even after an aircraft is cleared, security checks can leave delays, aircraft changes or missed connections. Passengers on diverted services should follow their airline’s instructions for onward transport.
Disclaimer: TravelCapybara is an independent media brand owned and operated by NuvexMedia LLC, publishing travel news, destination guides, research, and insights. NuvexMedia LLC may invest in or collaborate with companies across the travel, hospitality, technology, and digital media sectors. These relationships do not influence TravelCapybara’s editorial coverage. While we strive for accuracy, travel requirements, prices, schedules, availability, and local conditions may change without notice. Readers should independently verify information before making travel or purchasing decisions. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. © 2026 NuvexMedia LLC. All rights reserved.
