At least 25 passenger flights across Europe received bomb threats on Thursday, November 5, 2026. It was the second major wave of aviation security alerts in Europe this week. Several planes made unplanned landings, others were escorted by fighter jets, and every aircraft was searched after landing. No explosives were found on any plane. An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to a French air base, three Ryanair flights bound for Sofia were escorted by Bulgarian fighter jets, and police in Prague dealt with threats against four incoming aircraft. Authorities have not said who sent the threats or whether the incidents are connected.
Quick Facts
| Date | Thursday, November 5, 2026 |
| Flights threatened | At least 25 passenger flights |
| Wave this week | Second major wave, after at least seven flights and a cruise ship were targeted on Tuesday |
| Explosives found | None, on any aircraft in either wave |
| Airlines affected | Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Finnair, Wizz Air, LOT Polish Airlines, EasyJet and Iberia |
| Main diversion | Aer Lingus flight EI402, Dublin to Rome, diverted to Evreux air base in Normandy, France |
| People on EI402 | 151 passengers and six crew members, all safe |
| Sofia flights | Three Ryanair flights to Sofia, from Madrid, Copenhagen and London Stansted, escorted by Bulgarian fighter jets |
| Prague threats | Four incoming aircraft operated by Ryanair, EasyJet and Sky Express |
| Who is responsible | Not identified, and no government has blamed any country or group |
What Happened on Thursday
Thursday began like a normal travel day across Europe, and then the alerts started to arrive one after another. Airlines, airports and the authorities received threats claiming that explosive devices were on board passenger planes. Each threat had to be treated as real until it was checked, even though most bomb threats turn out to be false alarms. That rule is what turned a set of messages into a day of diversions, fighter jet escorts and long security searches.
Reuters reported that at least 25 passenger flights received threats during the day. The number makes this the largest wave of its kind in Europe this week, and the second in three days. On Tuesday, at least seven flights and a cruise ship were targeted in a similar round of threats. No explosives were found in those incidents either, but the repeat so soon after has raised questions about how organised the threats are. Aviation security experts told Reuters that the apparent coordination and the timing of the current incidents are unusual, even though airlines are used to dealing with bomb threats from time to time.
The Aer Lingus Flight That Diverted to France
The most widely reported incident of the day involved Aer Lingus flight EI402, an Airbus A320 flying from Dublin to Rome. After a bomb alert was reported, the plane was diverted to Evreux air base in Normandy, France. The office of French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the situation was being monitored by the prime minister’s office. The plane landed safely, and Aer Lingus said it diverted the aircraft as a security precaution and would work to get passengers to their final destination.
There were 151 passengers and six crew members on board, and all of them were safe. A military air base is a common choice for a diversion of this kind, because it gives security teams space and control while they search the aircraft. Passengers and baggage are taken off the plane, the aircraft is searched from end to end, and only then can the journey continue. That process takes hours, not minutes, and it explains why a single threat can disrupt a whole day of flying for the people on board and for the airline.
Ryanair Flights to Sofia and Threats in Prague
Three Ryanair flights bound for Sofia, Bulgaria, were targeted on Thursday. The flights had set off from Madrid, Copenhagen and London Stansted. Bulgarian fighter jets escorted all three aircraft. Two of the planes landed at their intended destination in Sofia, while the flight from London was diverted to Plovdiv. Fighter jet escorts are used when the authorities want to watch a plane closely and be ready to act at once, and their presence is a clear sign of how seriously the threat was taken.
In Prague, Czech police reported threats involving four incoming aircraft operated by Ryanair, EasyJet and Sky Express. The police assessed the threats as low credibility, but they still activated security measures. Low credibility does not mean no action. Every threat is checked, and the checks themselves are part of the disruption. A Prague airport representative told CNN that the airport had received a threat from an anonymous email, and Czech police said similar emails had gone to other European airports.
Other flights were also affected. Finnair services from Helsinki to Rome and Vienna both landed safely at their destinations, and the airline told the Associated Press that customers had left the aircraft. Wizz Air flights from Milan to Warsaw and Bucharest were also impacted. The spread of the incidents, from Ireland and Britain to Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland and Italy, is one reason the day felt so unsettling. It was not one plane or one airport, it was a pattern across the continent. Readers who want the background to this week should see our earlier report on the Tuesday wave of hoax bomb threats against European flights, which set the scene for Thursday.
How Airlines and Police Handle a Bomb Threat
When a threat arrives, an airline security team runs it through a checklist before it alerts the authorities. Eric Schouten, head of aviation security group Dyami, told Reuters that the team first works through the report step by step, and then passes it on. The authorities may then scramble fighter jets, divert the plane to a designated airport, or order a full sweep after landing. A sweep means unloading passengers and baggage, searching the aircraft, and then reloading it, which can push crews past their duty limits and lead to missed connections and cancellations.
The British government called this week’s incidents malicious hoax threats and said Britain has one of the most robust aviation security systems in the world. That language is strong, but it also reflects a difficult balance. Officials must reassure the public that flying is safe, while also showing that every threat is taken seriously. If they played down a threat and it turned out to be real, the cost would be terrible. If they treated every threat as a full emergency without explaining the process, the fear would spread faster than the facts.
Air France-KLM chief executive Ben Smith said on Thursday that he had never previously seen threats reported in such a coordinated fashion. The system works, in that no explosives have been found and no one has been hurt, but it is expensive and disruptive. Europe was already having a tense week, including our report on the nationwide strike in France on November 5, which added to travel disruption.
Who Is Behind the Threats and What Happens Next
Nobody knows who is behind the threats, and no one has claimed responsibility. Reuters reported that there is currently no public evidence linking this week’s incidents to any specific state or organisation. Rhys Jones of Osprey Flight Solutions said bomb threats can stem from a wide range of motives, including political grievances, activist campaigns, criminal activity, online groups or state linked hybrid operations. That list is broad, and it shows why investigators are cautious about guessing too soon.
The threats come amid broader concerns about hybrid attacks in Europe, including cyberattacks and sabotage. However, no government has directly attributed the aviation threats to a particular country or group, and blame cannot be placed fairly until investigators find who sent the messages.
Police across Europe will be tracing the emails and calls, looking for patterns in the wording, the timing and the targets. Airlines will keep their security checklists in place, and passengers should expect extra checks and delays if another wave comes. A threat does not need to be real to cause real disruption, as this week showed. Travellers should keep checking official airline updates, and the wider picture is also moving fast, including our report on the fire on two tankers and a tugboat in the Strait of Hormuz on November 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many flights were affected by the Europe bomb threats on November 5?
At least 25 passenger flights received bomb threats on Thursday, November 5, 2026, according to Reuters. It was the second major wave of aviation security alerts in Europe this week, after at least seven flights and a cruise ship were targeted on Tuesday.
Was anyone hurt, and were any explosives found?
No. No explosives were found aboard any aircraft in the Thursday wave or in the Tuesday wave. The Aer Lingus flight that diverted to France landed safely with 151 passengers and six crew members, and the Finnair flights landed safely at their destinations.
Which airlines were affected?
Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Finnair, Wizz Air, LOT Polish Airlines, EasyJet and Iberia were among the airlines affected on Thursday. Three Ryanair flights to Sofia were escorted by Bulgarian fighter jets, and four incoming aircraft in Prague were operated by Ryanair, EasyJet and Sky Express.
Who is responsible for the bomb threats?
Authorities have not identified who is responsible, and no one has claimed responsibility. No government has attributed the threats to any country or group, and Reuters reported that there is currently no public evidence linking the incidents to any specific state or organisation.
Sources
This article is based on reporting from Parade, which summarised the Reuters account of the Thursday wave, and on a Reuters explainer about the wave of threats. The Parade report is available at Parade, and the Reuters explainer is available at Reuters. A second Reuters report on the Aer Lingus diversion is available at Reuters.
Final Thoughts
Thursday, November 5, 2026 was a frightening day for European air travel, even though no bomb was found and no one was hurt. At least 25 flights were threatened, an Aer Lingus plane diverted to a French air base, three Ryanair flights to Sofia were escorted by fighter jets, and police in Prague dealt with four more threats. The fact that this was the second wave in three days is what makes it so serious. One round can be treated as isolated, but two rounds in one week point to something more organised. Until investigators find who sent the messages, airlines will keep treating every threat as real, and passengers will keep paying the price in delays and diversions.
