Hoax Bomb Threats Disrupt Seven European Flights; No Explosives Found

At least seven flights in Europe were disrupted on Tuesday by bomb threats that turned out to be hoaxes, according to the Associated Press, the BBC and The Guardian. No explosives were found on any of the aircraft.

What happened

A LOT Polish Airlines flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to Warsaw was diverted to Modlin Airport outside the Polish capital after a threat was received, the AP reported. Passengers were evacuated and the plane was searched.

Several Ryanair flights were also searched after landing, according to the BBC. Authorities in multiple countries responded, and some passengers faced long delays.

Officials later said the threats were false.

Who was behind it

Investigators had not publicly identified who made the threats as of Wednesday. Police in several countries said they were working together to trace their source. Some officials suggested the threats may have been coordinated because they arrived around the same time and targeted multiple airlines.

The Guardian reported that the incidents came amid heightened security concerns in Europe, where governments have blamed Russia for a series of sabotage attempts, drone sightings near airports and other disruptive acts over the past two years. No government had formally attributed Tuesday’s threats as of Wednesday morning.

How airlines respond

Airlines and airports treat every threat seriously, even though nearly all turn out to be hoaxes. Standard procedure can include diverting the aircraft to the nearest suitable airport, evacuating passengers and conducting a full search with bomb-detection teams.

These responses are costly. A single diversion can cost an airline tens of thousands of dollars in fuel, crew time and passenger compensation, and can cause knock-on delays across a network.

Legal consequences

Making a false bomb threat is a crime in European countries and in the United States, and offenders can face prison time. In some cases, airlines have also sued individuals to recover costs.

For travelers

Authorities said travelers should continue to follow airport security instructions and allow extra time if flying through affected airports. Airlines advised passengers to check flight status before leaving for the airport.

Investigations are continuing, and officials said more information would be released when available.

Sources: Associated Press, BBC.