Bomb threats disrupt multiple European flights, force airport closures

A wave of coordinated hoax bomb threats targeted up to 10 European flights on November 3, 2026, causing widespread aviation disruption, scrambling NATO fighter jets, and forcing the temporary closure of Warsaw Modlin Airport. Airline Ryanair suffered the heaviest impact with four affected flights. Security forces across Italy, Spain, Poland, and Bulgaria thoroughly searched the planes, finding no explosives. Experts and officials suspect potential low-cost hybrid warfare operations linked to Russian or Iranian state actors.

Scope and findings of November 3 threats

• ▪Approximately 7 to 10 European flights were targeted by bomb threats
• ▪No explosives were found on any aircraft targeted by bomb threats or at any airports affected by the threats following extensive ground searches by authorities on November 3, 2026

Metropolitan police response

• ▪London's Metropolitan Police reported that no security issues were identified following checks conducted on the threatened aircraft on November 3, 2026 at Heathrow and Manchester airports
• ▪London's Metropolitan Police confirmed threats were made on November 3, 2026 against four aircraft scheduled to depart from or arrive at London Heathrow Airport, as well as a warning regarding a flight at Manchester Airport

Targeted Ryanair flights on November 3

• ▪Ryanair flights from Lisbon to Rome, Dublin to Rome, and Dublin to Sofia also received bomb threats on November 3, 2026
• ▪Irish budget carrier Ryanair was the airline worst affected by the November 3, 2026 bomb scares across European flights, with four of its flights targeted
• ▪Italian air force jets were scrambled to escort Ryanair flight FR9611 from Dublin

Ryanair flight disruption in Murcia

• ▪A Ryanair flight carrying 114 passengers from Manchester to Murcia, Spain activated emergency protocols and landed safely on November 3, 2026 before being declared a hoax
• ▪Spanish authorities cordoned off parts of Murcia airport

LOT Polish Airlines diversion to Modlin

• ▪A LOT Polish Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw carrying 181 people was diverted to Warsaw Modlin Airport
• ▪Warsaw Modlin Airport was briefly closed on November 3, 2026 while authorities searched the diverted LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 737 MAX, reopening after no explosives were found

Scandinavian Airlines flight threat

• ▪An SAS Scandinavian Airlines flight SK751 from Copenhagen landed safely at Warsaw Chopin Airport on November 3, 2026, where a runway was briefly closed for security inspection
• ▪Warsaw Chopin Airport confirmed that no explosive devices were found during the security inspection of the Scandinavian Airlines aircraft that flew as flight SK751 from Copenhagen and the airport remained operational

Crown Iris cruise ship threat

• ▪Initial inspections of the Crown Iris cruise ship found no explosive devices, with Greek coastguard specialists assigned to perform additional checks
• ▪Authorities searched the Panama-flagged cruise ship Crown Iris

Theories on threat origins and hybrid warfare

• ▪Osprey Flight Solutions co-founder Matthew Borie stated that the wave of bomb threats across Europe on November 3, 2026, could stem from copycat actors, a single coordinated group, or hybrid warfare operations by state actors
• ▪European officials and analysts pointed to potential Russian or Iranian hybrid warfare operations, though official sources made no formal attribution and both Moscow and Tehran deny conducting such hybrid warfare operations
• ▪Aviation security experts noted the November 3, 2026 bomb threats coincided with other recent European disruptions, including cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration systems and unexplained drone incursions