A wave of hoax bomb threats against passenger flights across Europe continued on November 6, 2026, and spread to newsrooms in Ireland, Britain and Bulgaria. The threats forced diversions, unplanned landings and military escorts during the week. No suspicious items were found and no one was hurt, and authorities have not said who sent them.
How the Week of Threats Unfolded
The first wave came on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Bomb threats hit at least seven flights and a cruise ship around Europe that day, and two of the planes had left from the U.K.
A second wave followed on Thursday, November 5. Eurocontrol, the European air traffic authority, counted 14 threatened flights on Thursday, about 0.05% of the nearly 26,300 flights on its network that day. A LOT Polish Airlines flight from Warsaw landed in Brussels, where inspections found nothing suspicious. Italian Air Force jets escorted a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome. Four flights in and out of Vienna’s Schwechat airport were also targeted. An email sent to airport authorities in Rome claimed to come from a group describing itself as anti-feminist.
The threats kept coming on Friday, November 6. The EU’s transport commissioner, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, put Friday’s count at 11. Czech police recorded threats against nine flights arriving at or leaving Prague. Václav Havel Airport spokesperson Denisa Hejtmánková said they included arrivals from Denmark, Spain and Britain and departures to the Netherlands, Britain, Cyprus, Italy and Romania. France said four aircraft over French territory got new threats, and all four landed safely.
Why the Threats Reaching Newsrooms Matter
On November 6, Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ evacuated staff from its Dublin campus after an emailed bomb threat and aired prerecorded programs until police declared the site safe. The Irish government said hoax bomb claims were also sent to Virgin Media, Newstalk radio and the Irish Independent. It said it was unclear who sent them and that a coordinated campaign of disruption seemed likely. Britain’s Sky and Bulgaria’s Nova TV also reported threats.
For air travel, the direct impact has been limited. Eurocontrol described the overall disruption as minimal. Still, each threat sets off security procedures, and diverting and inspecting aircraft costs money. Paul Reuter, vice president of the European Cockpit Association, said the threats weigh on pilots and cause needless tension, but that crews are ready to respond professionally.
The hoaxes followed other disruptions in Europe, including cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems and drone incursions, which has added to the concern.
Background: How Officials Have Described the Hoaxes
Fake bomb threats against aircraft happen fairly often, but this many in such a short period is unusual. Officials and airlines have been calling the incidents hoaxes or false threats.
British Transport Minister Heidi Alexander told broadcasters that flights across Europe had been hit by “malicious hoax threats.” Finnair said two of its flights faced unfounded hoax bomb scares.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described the threats against aircraft as an “attempt at hybrid aggression and psychological warfare” and called them an attack on European democracy by autocratic forces. No government has publicly identified who is responsible.
FAQ
– Were any bombs found on the planes?
No. No suspicious items were found and no one was injured. The flights affected in France all landed safely.
– How many flights have been affected?
Eurocontrol counted seven flights targeted on November 3 and 14 on November 5, 2026. The EU transportation commissioner reported 11 more on November 6.
– Is it known who is sending the threats?
No. An email sent to Rome airport authorities claimed to come from an anti-feminist group, but authorities have not publicly named anyone responsible for the overall campaign. The Irish government said it was unclear who sent the threats to Irish news outlets.