ROME — Seven passenger planes underwent inspections across Europe on Tuesday following a series of anonymous bomb threats, with authorities finding no explosives on any aircraft.
Two Ryanair flights—one from Dublin and another from Lisbon—were searched upon landing at Rome's Fiumicino airport. The Dublin flight received an Italian Air Force escort. Police bomb disposal experts inspected passengers, luggage and both aircraft, with negative results.
Ryanair flights from Manchester to Murcia, Spain and two flights bound for Warsaw—one from London Heathrow—were also affected. Spanish authorities found no explosives on the Manchester flight.
Passenger Sarah, aboard the Murcia flight, said she learned of the threat only after landing. The aircraft stopped abruptly, then waited 30 minutes on the runway before fire engines and a bomb squad arrived. She evacuated, leaving belongings behind, as emergency services surrounded the plane.
The UK government described the incidents as "malicious hoax threats" and said the country maintains robust aviation security systems and tested protocols for potential threats.
Aviation security expert Paul Mason said bomb threats on passenger planes are infrequent. He told BBC Radio 5 Live that the threats appeared credible across multiple airlines, suggesting a deliberate act rather than coincidental calls. He noted that onboard crews and ground personnel follow extensive protocols to assess threat credibility, and flights may divert if a threat reaches a certain level.
Authorities from various European countries are cooperating to determine whether the threats represent a coordinated attack intended to disrupt airspace.
