Bomb Threats Disrupt Seven European Flights and a Cruise Ship, and No Devices Are Found

At least seven flights and a cruise ship in Europe received bomb threats on Tuesday, causing disruption at airports, though no explosive devices were found, Reuters reported.

Two flights each bound for Warsaw, Sofia and Rome, and one for Murcia in Spain, were threatened, Reuters reported. An airport in Warsaw was briefly shut, and the Italian Air Force escorted one flight to Rome.

Flights diverted and searched

A LOT Polish Airlines flight from London Heathrow bound for Warsaw Chopin airport was diverted to nearby Modlin airport, which closed, then reopened after a search found no device, Reuters reported. A SAS flight from Copenhagen landed at Chopin as scheduled, with no device found.

In Bulgaria, threats were made against a Wizz Air flight from Milan/Bergamo with 176 passengers and a Ryanair flight from Dublin with 186 passengers, both bound for Sofia, according to Bulgaria’s transport ministry. Both landed safely, and inspections found no explosives.

In Spain, parts of Murcia airport were cordoned off after a threat was reported on a Ryanair flight from Manchester. Officials said the report was a hoax, and the airport resumed normal operations. Two Ryanair flights, from Lisbon and Dublin, were searched at Rome’s Fiumicino airport, a source from airport operator ADR told Reuters.

Cruise ship searched in Greece

An explosives detection dog and a diver searched the Panama-flagged cruise ship Crown Iris on the Greek island of Syros after an unknown person said a device had been attached to its hull, authorities said. Initial checks found no device, with further coast guard inspections expected before it sailed.

No one claimed responsibility, and officials did not attribute blame, Reuters reported. Rhys Jones of aviation risk advisory firm Osprey Flight Solutions told Reuters that seven confirmed threats in one day was exceptional.

Reporting based on coverage by Reuters.