Published on : 04 Nov 2026
At least seven passenger flights across Europe received bomb threats on Tuesday, November 3, prompting fighter-jet escorts, a diversion, emergency searches and a brief airport closure — and every one turned out to be a hoax, with all aircraft landing safely and no one injured.
Ryanair, LOT Polish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Wizz Air were targeted on routes into Poland, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria. Ryanair was the hardest hit, with four of its flights threatened. The wave followed an incident on Monday, November 2, when a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia received a threat in mid-air and was diverted to Budapest under escort from a Hungarian Gripen fighter.
No group has claimed responsibility and officials have not blamed anyone. Here is what happened flight by flight, why it matters for travellers, and what your rights are if your flight is diverted or delayed by a security alert.
Published: November 4, 2026 — Wednesday Date of the main incidents: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, plus one on Monday, November 2 Flights targeted on November 3: Seven — four Ryanair, one LOT, one SAS, one Wizz Air Countries involved: Poland, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria (plus Hungary, where the November 2 Wizz Air flight diverted) Fighter jets: Two Italian Air Force Eurofighters escorted Ryanair FR9611 from Dublin to Rome Fiumicino; a Hungarian Gripen escorted the Wizz Air flight on November 2 Airport impact: Warsaw Modlin briefly closed; a runway closed at Warsaw Chopin; parts of Murcia airport cordoned off Result: No explosives found on any aircraft; no injuries Attribution: No claim of responsibility and no official blame; analysts say the aim appears to be general disruption Also threatened: A cruise ship, the Crown Iris, was evacuated off the Greek island of Syros after a bomb threat; no device was found UK link: The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of threats against four aircraft due to depart from or arrive at Heathrow, plus a flight at Manchester; no security issues were identified
| Date | Airline and Route | What Happened | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Nov 2 | Wizz Air, London Luton–Sofia | Threat received in mid-air; NATO’s air-defence alert service flagged it; Hungarian Gripen jets escorted the plane to Budapest | Diverted; no threat found |
| Tue, Nov 3 | LOT Polish Airlines, London Heathrow–Warsaw Chopin | Boeing 737 MAX diverted to Warsaw Modlin, which was closed briefly while the plane was searched | “Nothing found”; Modlin resumed operations |
| Tue, Nov 3 | SAS SK751, Copenhagen–Warsaw Chopin | Landed normally; passengers disembarked while a runway was closed for inspection | Not an emergency landing; referred to Polish police |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Ryanair, Lisbon–Rome Fiumicino | Landed at about 9:40am; anti-bomb procedures carried out | Checks negative; alert lifted |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Ryanair FR9611, Dublin–Rome Fiumicino | Two Eurofighters from the Grosseto air base intercepted and escorted the plane; landed around 10:30–10:45am | No explosives found |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Ryanair, Manchester–Murcia | Spain’s airport operator Aena activated an emergency protocol; 121 people on board (114 passengers and seven crew); landed at 10:30am; part of the airport cordoned off | Hoax; airport resumed normal operations |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Ryanair, Dublin–Sofia | About 185 passengers; the transport ministry said the pilot was informed by the airline; inspected by Bulgaria’s counter-terrorism unit after landing | No explosives found |
| Tue, Nov 3 | Wizz Air, Milan Bergamo–Sofia | 176 passengers; inspected after landing | No explosives found |
| Place | What Authorities Said |
|---|---|
| Rome Fiumicino | The airport operator ADR said the alert was cleared, there was no threat to the airport itself, and other flights were not affected |
| Warsaw Modlin | A spokesman said nothing was found; operations resumed after the closure |
| Murcia | The government delegate for the region said the Guardia Civil carried out checks while passengers and crew disembarked |
| Sofia | Bulgaria’s transport minister said air traffic control followed the standard threat protocol and the planes landed safely |
| London | The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of threats against four aircraft at Heathrow and a flight at Manchester and found no security issues; UK Counter-Terrorism Policing said it had no active investigation but was in contact with international partners |
An aviation security analyst at Osprey Flight Solutions told Reuters that seven confirmed bomb threats affecting flights in a single day is exceptional, and that the lack of a clear target country, airline or route suggests the aim is general disruption. European officials have recently accused Russia and Iran of “hybrid” attacks and sabotage, which both deny, and some experts say hoax threats could fit a pattern of low-cost, deniable disruption, though no country has linked this episode to any state.
For travellers, the practical risk is limited: every flight landed safely. The main impact is delay, diversion and rebooking.
| Situation | What Usually Applies | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Your flight is diverted or delayed by a bomb threat | Under EU261 and UK261, security threats are generally treated as extraordinary circumstances, so cash compensation is usually not due | Keep boarding passes and receipts |
| Your flight is cancelled | A choice of refund or re-routing at the earliest opportunity | Contact the airline through its app or customer service |
| You are stranded | The airline’s duty of care (meals, refreshments, accommodation if needed) still applies in most cases | Ask the airline; keep receipts for expenses |
| You miss a connection | Depends on whether it was on the same ticket | Ask the airline to rebook; don’t buy new tickets first |
| Package holiday | The tour operator must help with alternative arrangements | Contact the operator |
| Travel insurance | Policies vary on diversion and delay cover | Check your policy |
General guidance, not legal advice. The rules that apply depend on your route and airline.
Authorities have not said who is behind the threats, and investigations are continuing. Airlines and airports are expected to review security procedures, and more hoaxes cannot be ruled out. We’ll update this article as police and airlines release more information.
Posted By : Vinay
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on information available at the time of publication. Travel advisories, airline schedules, airport operations, visa requirements, government regulations, and other travel-related information are subject to change without prior notice. While Travel Tourister makes reasonable efforts to verify information using official announcements, government publications, airline and airport communications, and other reliable sources, we cannot guarantee that all information remains complete, accurate, or up to date at all times. Readers should independently verify any information that may affect their travel plans with the relevant airline, airport authority, government agency, embassy, or other official source before making travel, financial, or other decisions. Travel Tourister shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss, inconvenience, or damages arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this article. Nothing in this publication constitutes legal, immigration, financial, or professional travel advice. If you believe any information in this article is inaccurate or outdated, please contact our editorial team. We review all credible correction requests promptly and update our content whenever appropriate.
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