Several flights operated by European airlines were diverted or subjected to security searches over two days after bomb threats were reported, affecting Wizz Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and at least two Ryanair services.
The incidents were reported from Monday into Tuesday, with a number of the affected aircraft travelling towards destinations in eastern Europe. The threats prompted responses from police, airports and airline security teams, although the origin and motive behind them had not been established.
Aircraft searched after arrival
A Wizz Air service from Bergamo to Sofia was searched after landing on Tuesday following a threat, according to an airline spokesperson. A separate Wizz Air flight from London Luton Airport to Sofia was diverted to Budapest on Monday for the same reason.
A threat was also made against an SAS flight travelling from Copenhagen to Warsaw. The airline said the matter was being handled by police. Polish security services separately inspected two aircraft arriving in Warsaw from London and Copenhagen after alerts were received at airports serving the capital.
| Airline | Flight detail reported | Action taken |
|---|---|---|
| Wizz Air | Bergamo–Sofia | Aircraft searched after arrival |
| Wizz Air | London Luton–Sofia | Diverted to Budapest |
| SAS | Copenhagen–Warsaw | Police handling the threat |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Flight arriving at Warsaw-Modlin | Aircraft evacuated and inspected |
Warsaw-Modlin Airport was briefly closed after the aircraft arriving from London made an emergency landing, the airport said on its website. LOT said the aircraft had 181 people on board; those people were evacuated while the aircraft underwent a security inspection. Airport operations later resumed.
At least two Ryanair flights were also affected, according to the BBC. Video shown by the broadcaster depicted authorities and a dog inspecting a Ryanair aircraft that had landed in Murcia, Spain, after departing from Manchester. Ryanair had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
“Wilfully blind”
The incidents took place amid heightened security concerns across Europe. The United Kingdom’s cybersecurity chief warned on Tuesday that Britain could face an unprecedented increase in cyberattacks in the coming months and urged businesses not to be “wilfully blind” to the risk. The warning followed suspected cyberattacks on supermarkets across Europe, which caused sudden changes to refrigerator and freezer temperatures.
Operational and security response
The airline incidents demonstrate the operational consequences of a threat even when no dangerous item is reported. Diversions require aircraft to be held away from their planned airports, while searches and evacuations delay the aircraft, passengers and airport resources involved. In the cases reported, airlines and airports referred the threats to police or security services rather than providing conclusions about their credibility or origin.
- Two Wizz Air flights were affected, including one diversion to Budapest.
- A LOT aircraft carrying 181 people was evacuated and inspected at Warsaw-Modlin.
- An SAS flight and at least two Ryanair flights were also linked to the alerts.
- Warsaw-Modlin Airport briefly closed before resuming operations.
