Security in Europe

Expert on aircraft threats: “Likely not a coincidence”

The fact that several aircraft have been forced to make emergency landings following bomb threats—both today and this past Tuesday—raises suspicions of a coordinated operation. This is according to aviation security expert Paul Hulme Harrison, speaking to the Danish broadcaster TV2.

“It is not very likely that this is a coincidence.”

According to Harrison, while attempted hijackings and bomb threats against aircraft occur every year, the fact that so many threats have emerged simultaneously is remarkable.

New bomb threats against aircraft in Europe – emergency landings forced

Around ten European aircraft have been forced to make emergency landings following bomb threats, according to Reuters.

On Thursday morning, a plane traveling from Dublin to Rome was forced to land at the French military base in Évreux. Three other aircraft were forced to make emergency landings in Bulgaria following similar threats. According to The Guardian, these involve Ryanair flights that departed from Copenhagen, Madrid, and London.

A Finnair flight traveling from Helsinki to Rome was also reportedly targeted by a bomb threat and was escorted to the airport by fighter jets, a source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

This past Tuesday, bomb threats were directed at around ten aircraft within European airspace. No explosives were found.