A new series of bomb scares is affecting European air traffic, causing route diversions, military aviation interventions, and extraordinary checks at airports. On the morning of Thursday, November 5, an Airbus A320 of the Irish airline Aer Lingus, which took off from Dublin at 6:25 and was headed to Rome-Fiumicino, was diverted to the French airbase of Évreux, in Normandy, after a report of a possible explosive device on board. The news was confirmed by the French government to broadcaster Bfmtv, while military authorities ordered fighter jets to escort the aircraft during the diversion.
The incident is part of a series of similar reports that, within a few days, have involved numerous flights departing or heading to various European airports. On the same morning, security protocols were also activated for a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Fiumicino and for a Wizz Air Airbus A321 that took off from Milan Malpensa bound for Warsaw, later diverted to Vienna. Airport authorities and police forces are conducting the necessary checks to rule out the presence of dangerous materials, while the origin of the reports remains unclear.
Link to The Aer Lingus flight changes course over France, military jets interveneThe Aer Lingus flight changes course over France, military jets intervene
The Aer Lingus aircraft had left Dublin airport in the early hours to reach the Italian capital, but the alarm was raised while crossing French airspace. According to Paris authorities, the report concerned a possible explosive threat on board, necessitating a change in the flight plan, directing the Airbus A320 to a military facility instead of continuing to Leonardo da Vinci airport in Fiumicino.
The trajectory reconstruction, visible through the Flightradar monitoring service, shows that the aircraft made a course reversal over the Essonne department, in the area south of Paris. After performing several circuits in the air, the plane initially headed north, then changed direction again to reach the area of the Évreux airbase in Normandy. The maneuvers were carried out while coordinating the necessary security procedures to manage the situation and allow the intervention of the competent authorities.
The French military aviation confirmed that it had scrambled its jets "to intercept the airliner following a suspected bomb alert," later specifying that "the plane is diverted and escorted to Evreux." The decision to accompany the aircraft with military planes is part of the measures adopted when a potentially serious threat affects a civilian flight. At the time of the first communications, no elements confirming the actual presence of a device had been released, while the diversion was ordered to allow checks under safe conditions.
Link to Fiumicino, Finnair flight from Helsinki lands under military escortFiumicino, Finnair flight from Helsinki lands under military escort
The alert simultaneously affected Rome-Fiumicino airport, where a Finnair aircraft from Helsinki landed regularly around 9:30, after being escorted by Italian Air Force jets. In this case too, the intervention was prompted by anonymous reports of the alleged presence of an explosive device on board, requiring the activation of procedures for airport security emergencies.
According to airport sources, after the aircraft's arrival, bomb disposal operations were initiated by Police bomb experts, tasked with conducting the necessary checks on the plane. The inspections, still ongoing at the time of the first information, were arranged to ascertain the possible presence of suspicious materials and ensure the safety of those involved. The landing took place without deviations from the planned destination, but with reinforced protection and the involvement of military authorities.
The report concerning the Finnair flight added to that of the Aer Lingus Airbus, also headed to the Roman airport. In the latter case, however, the captain chose not to proceed to Italy and to head to the French military airport of Évreux, where appropriate checks could be conducted. The handling of the two incidents highlights how procedures may involve different operational solutions depending on the aircraft's position, available information, and assessments made by the authorities responsible for flight safety.
Link to Wizz Air from Malpensa to Warsaw diverted to ViennaWizz Air from Malpensa to Warsaw diverted to Vienna
A third bomb scare involved an Airbus A321 of the Wizz Air company on the same morning, which departed at 7 from Milan Malpensa Silvio Berlusconi airport and was headed to Warsaw. During the flight, a report of a possible explosive threat was received, leading to the decision to interrupt the original route and head to Vienna airport, in the Austrian capital, where the aircraft subsequently landed.
The airline confirmed that the diversion was ordered "following a bomb threat received during the flight," thus clarifying the reasons for the change in the travel program. In this circumstance too, the alert led to the application of security procedures provided for air connections affected by potentially dangerous reports, with the involvement of competent authorities for checks after landing.
The simultaneity of the incidents has drawn attention to the succession of threats affecting European air transport. The reports concern different airlines and international connections crossing multiple national airspaces, necessitating coordination between airport operators, air traffic controllers, police forces, and military structures. However, from the available information, there are not enough elements to determine whether the morning's alerts are connected or attributable to a single origin.
Link to About ten flights involved in previous daysAbout ten flights involved in previous days
The incidents on November 5 follow a series of bomb scares that had already affected European air traffic on Tuesday. According to the authorities of the countries involved, about ten flights had been subject to suspicious reports, resulting in security checks, diversions, and temporary limitations of airport activities. Inspections carried out in those circumstances did not lead to the discovery of explosive devices or other suspicious materials, but still necessitated the activation of protocols provided for this type of emergency.
Among the affected connections were at least four flights of the Ryanair company, including another service between Dublin and Rome, as well as planes operated by Sas, Lot, and Wizz Air. At Fiumicino, in particular, two Ryanair aircraft were subjected to bomb disposal operations following an anonymous report, while in Poland, a Lot company plane, which took off from London-Heathrow, was diverted from Warsaw-Chopin airport to Warsaw-Modlin airport. The measures adopted caused operational disruptions, but the checks did not confirm the presence of devices.
Further incidents were recorded in Bulgaria, where two planes arriving in Sofia were subjected to checks after reports sent via email to the Ministry of the Interior, according to the border police. The previous day, moreover, a Wizz Air flight departing from London-Luton and headed to the Bulgarian capital was forced to make an emergency landing in Budapest, accompanied by two jets of the Hungarian military aviation. These interventions were also part of the precautionary measures adopted by national authorities to address threats directed at civilian connections.
(Associated Medias) - All rights reserved