World · Sri Lanka Bureau
European airlines targeted by second wave of bomb threats
At least 21 aircraft across eight European countries have been affected by bomb threats in the second major incident this week, with authorities dismissing the incidents as malicious hoaxes.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Multiple flights operating to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Romania were impacted by the threats on Thursday. An Aer Lingus aircraft travelling from Dublin to Rome was among those diverted as a precaution following the alerts.
The UK authorities characterised the threats as a "malicious hoax", noting the coordinated nature of the incidents across multiple nations and airlines. Several airports across the continent implemented enhanced security protocols in response to the wave of threats.
This marks the second significant incident within seven days, raising concerns about the repetitive nature of the false alerts targeting European aviation infrastructure. Authorities have not confirmed the source of the threats or provided details regarding ongoing investigations.
Airlines and airport operators maintained standard security procedures, prioritising passenger safety while responding to each threat individually. No dangerous items were reported to have been discovered on any of the affected aircraft.