Bomb threats disrupt flights across Europe

More than 10 flights across Europe were reportedly affected by bomb threats on Thursday, with some diverted, two days after similar alerts disrupted seven flights.

The latest threats followed a series of alerts on Tuesday that prompted aircraft searches in Italy, Poland, Spain and Bulgaria, however, no explosives were found in those incidents. 

Authorities across Europe have not officially linked Tuesday's incidents, which caused unplanned landings and temporary airport closures.

On Thursday, an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to Evreux military air base in northern France after receiving a bomb threat. The aircraft initially reported a diversion to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport but later reported that it was heading to Evreux on government orders.

Meanwhile, Italian fighter jets escorted a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome before it landed safely at Fiumicino airport at around 9:30am.

Police bomb disposal experts found no explosives, an airport spokesperson said, and checks did not affect airport operations.

A LOT flight from Warsaw to Brussels also landed safely. The airline said the crew inspected the aircraft after receiving information about a potential security threat.

Security services carried out another inspection after landing and found no dangerous or suspicious items, a LOT spokesperson said.

In Bucharest, passengers left a flight from Milan after it landed following a bomb threat. An explosives disposal team from Romania’s intelligence service was inspecting the aircraft.

Airport officials said emergency procedures were activated, while other flights continued on schedule.

Other reported cases included a Milan-to-Warsaw flight diverted to Vienna and a Ryanair service from London to Sofia diverted to Plovdiv. Ryanair flights from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia.

Details of the threats and checks are still emerging.