At least 14 flights across Europe were targeted by bomb threats on Thursday, prompting the deployment of fighter jets, flight diversions and security checks at several airports.
The incidents marked the third consecutive day of widespread bomb alerts across parts of Europe, with low-cost airlines and flights travelling to or from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Italy among those affected.
According to reports by authorities and airlines, Italian, French and Bulgarian fighter jets were deployed to escort some of the affected aircraft after the threats were received. Although three flights were diverted, all the planes eventually landed safely, and security checks found no explosives.
Among the affected airlines was Ryanair, which recorded at least seven bomb threats during the week. Three of its aircraft travelling to Sofia, Bulgaria, from Madrid, Copenhagen and London Stansted were targeted on Thursday.
A spokesperson for Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport said two of the aircraft landed in Sofia, while the flight from London Stansted was diverted to Plovdiv Airport.
Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry confirmed that fighter jets escorted all three aircraft, explaining that the operations were intended to “detect, identify and escort the aircraft.” An Interior Ministry spokesperson later confirmed that inspections found no explosives on board.