After freezer attacks and fake nuclear alerts, Europe hit by wave of bomb threats targeting flights: Which flights were affected and who's behind it?

Europe is facing a fresh wave of security scares after more than a dozen flights across the continent were targeted by bomb threats on Thursday, forcing airlines to divert aircraft, make emergency landings and deploy fighter jets. The latest incidents come amid a series of security concerns across Europe, including cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems, mysterious nuclear attack alerts on mobile apps and suspected drone incursions into European airspace.

Flights operating from or heading to Copenhagen, Dublin, Helsinki, Madrid, Milan and Warsaw were among those affected, the Associated Press reported. The incidents follow another series of bomb threats on Tuesday, when 10 flights were targeted. All the alerts turned out to be hoaxes. The threats led to the closure of an airport in Warsaw and prompted the Italian Air Force to deploy fighter jets to escort aircraft.

Which flights were affected by the bomb threats?

Several European airlines reported security alerts on Thursday, with authorities inspecting aircraft and airports activating emergency procedures.


Three Ryanair flights heading to Sofia from Madrid, Copenhagen and London's Stansted Airport were targeted by bomb threats. Two aircraft landed safely in Sofia, while the flight from London Stansted was diverted to Plovdiv Airport, east of the Bulgarian capital. Fighter jets escorted all three aircraft. All three planes were subsequently inspected, but no explosives were found, an Interior Ministry spokesperson told AFP.

A Finnair flight travelling from Helsinki to Rome was escorted by a fighter jet before landing at Rome's Fiumicino Airport. Bomb disposal experts inspected the aircraft, but found nothing suspicious, an airport spokesperson told AFP.

Tuunanen also confirmed that another false bomb threat had targeted flight AY1471 from Helsinki to Vienna.

Two Wizz Air flights were also affected. A flight travelling from Milan to Warsaw was diverted to Vienna following a bomb threat, the airline said. Another Wizz Air flight from Milan to Bucharest landed safely at its destination.

An Aer Lingus flight travelling from Dublin to Rome was diverted to France following a bomb threat. French authorities said military aircraft escorted the plane to Evreux Air Base, west of Paris.

Four aircraft bound for Prague, operated by Ryanair, easyJet and Sky Express, were also targeted. Czech police said on X that they considered the threats to have low credibility but were taking the situation seriously. Prague Airport spokesperson Denisa Hejtmankova told AFP that the threats had been received through emails sent from anonymous addresses. It was not immediately clear which airlines were involved.

Two aircraft arriving at Copenhagen were also targeted by threats. However, Copenhagen police sought to reassure the public. "Our assessment is that there is no danger, and there has never been any danger, to passengers or anyone else at the airport," police told AFP.

Who is behind the bomb threats?

The origin and motives behind the latest bomb threats remain unknown. Authorities have not publicly identified those responsible or established whether the incidents are connected.

However, the attacks come amid growing concerns about hybrid warfare in Europe, involving cyberattacks, sabotage, espionage and attempts to disrupt critical infrastructure.

Last month, France's Secretary-General for Defence and National Security, Nicolas Roche said the "massing of hybrid attacks in all their diversity — sabotage, cyber, drones, espionage of course — that we are seeing take shape in Europe."

Freezer attacks

Earlier this week, hackers reportedly manipulated refrigeration systems at supermarkets across Europe, raising temperatures and threatening large quantities of stored food. It was the second cyberattack of its kind in three weeks, forcing supermarket operators to strengthen their systems against further intrusions. The incidents reportedly resulted in food losses worth millions of euros.

European authorities have not publicly explained how the hackers gained access to the systems. They have also not identified any individual, organisation or country as responsible. Some European media reports have speculated about possible Russian hacking group involvement, but no such connection has been officially established.

Mysterious nuclear attack alerts on mobile apps

Another incident that raised alarm involved fake nuclear attack warnings sent through mobile applications. On Sunday, several Ukrainians reportedly received nuclear attack alerts through an app that was subsequently found to have been hacked. Hours later, the mobile application of Russia's Emergencies Ministry was also hit by what German broadcaster DW described as a "massive cyberattack".

Drone incursions

European countries have also reported an increase in suspicious drone activity and airspace violations. According to an Al Jazeera report published on October 29, European officials have alleged that Russian fighter jets entered the airspace of Poland, Lithuania and Estonia, apparently testing response times.

Suspected Russian drones have also been intercepted or downed over Poland, Finland and the Baltic states, the report said.

Another report said more than 200 drone incursions had been recorded in NATO and European airspace since the beginning of 2025.

Moscow has faced accusations of escalating such activities, although responsibility for individual incidents has not always been established.

World War 3 fears amid advisory to stockpile supplies

The growing number of security incidents has also fuelled speculation about the possibility of a wider conflict in Europe. Several European governments have advised citizens to prepare emergency supplies, including food, drinking water and essential items, in case of a major crisis.

The United States, the United Kingdom and Japan have also issued emergency preparedness guidance encouraging households to maintain essential supplies.

With agency inputs