Bomb Threats Disrupt Multiple European Flights Across Four Countries
The Bulgarian Air Force and other European authorities responded to widespread bomb threats targeting Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Wizz Air, and Finnair flights on November 5.
A series of bomb threats targeted civilian aircraft across European airspace on November 5, 2026, causing widespread travel disruptions. The Bulgarian Air Force scrambled MiG-29 fighter jets under the command of the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre to escort three Ryanair passenger aircraft. Two of these planes landed at Vassil Levski Sofia Airport, while a flight from London was diverted to Plovdiv. Emergency services inspected all three aircraft, and no explosive devices were found.
The disruptions extended beyond Bulgaria, affecting several other airlines and routes. An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to the Evreux airbase in northern France, and a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw landed in Vienna. A Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome landed safely in the Italian capital despite a threat.
These incidents follow a pattern of similar threats reported earlier in the week. On November 4, at least seven flights were affected, including two threats against aircraft traveling to Sofia.
