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Three passenger flights traveling to or from Italy were affected by bomb threats Thursday, prompting fighter jet escorts and emergency diversions across European airspace, according to Italian media reports and airline statements.
The incidents involved a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome, an Aer Lingus aircraft from Dublin to Rome and a Wizz Air service from Milan to Warsaw.
Italian news agency ANSA reported that the Finnair flight was escorted to Rome by a fighter jet before being inspected by bomb disposal experts. An airport spokesperson confirmed the incident to AFP.
Meanwhile, an Aer Lingus Airbus A320 carrying 151 passengers and six crew members was diverted to a French military air base after a suspected bomb threat.
The French Air Force said its fighter aircraft had been scrambled "to intercept the airliner following a suspicion of bomb threat."
According to French newspaper Le Figaro, a Rafale fighter jet escorted the aircraft to Evreux-Fauville Air Base in Normandy.
The plane's captain changed course and circled several times over northern France before landing safely at the military facility.
Bomb disposal teams were waiting to inspect the aircraft following its arrival.
In a separate incident, a Wizz Air Airbus A321 traveling from Milan to Warsaw was diverted to Vienna after the airline received a bomb threat during the flight.
The aircraft, operating flight W4 6387, departed Milan Malpensa Airport at approximately 7:00 a.m. local time (6:00 a.m. GMT) before changing course toward the Austrian capital.
"Wizz Air confirms that today's Milan Malpensa-Warsaw flight (W4 6387) was diverted to Vienna following a bomb threat received during the flight," the airline said in a statement.
The Hungarian carrier said the diversion was carried out in accordance with established safety protocols to protect passengers and crew.
"Wizz Air is fully cooperating with the relevant authorities and is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of all people on board. The safety and security of our passengers and crew members continue to be our top priority," the statement added.
The three incidents prompted security responses in multiple European countries, including fighter aircraft escorts and the deployment of bomb disposal specialists.
The latest incidents followed bomb threats involving two passenger aircraft arriving at Rome's Fiumicino Airport from Lisbon, Portugal, and Dublin, Ireland, on Nov. 3. Both alerts were later determined to be false alarms.
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