Paris, Nov 06 (V7N)- A fresh wave of bomb threats targeting airlines across Europe on Thursday forced several flights to divert, make unplanned landings or undergo additional security checks, raising concerns over aviation safety.

The threats affected flights in several European countries, including France, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic. However, authorities and airlines have reported no explosives or suspicious devices on the aircraft inspected so far.

Aer Lingus flight EI402, travelling from Dublin to Rome, was diverted to Évreux airport in France, around 100 kilometres west of Paris, as a security precaution. The airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely.

In Bulgaria, three flights received bomb threats and were forced to make emergency landings, according to officials. Flights from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in the capital Sofia, while another aircraft travelling from London was diverted to Plovdiv, the country's second-largest city.

Czech police said four flights bound for Prague had also received bomb threats. Authorities began preparations for the aircraft to land, although an initial assessment suggested the threats were unlikely to be credible.

Meanwhile, the Italian Air Force escorted a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome before it landed safely. Another Helsinki-bound service, operated by Jettime, also landed normally in Vienna despite receiving a threat.

Polish airline LOT said one of its flights from Warsaw to Brussels landed safely following a security alert, with no suspicious objects found during inspection. Another LOT flight heading to Paris was stopped while taxiing towards the runway, and passengers were transferred to a different aircraft as a precaution.

A Wizz Air flight travelling from Milan to Warsaw was also diverted to Vienna following a bomb threat, according to media reports.

The latest incidents follow a series of similar threats earlier in the week. On Tuesday, at least seven flights and a cruise ship were targeted, causing widespread disruption at several European airports. No explosive devices were found.

Concerns over possible coordinated disruption

No country or organisation has claimed responsibility for the threats. The incidents come amid accusations by some European officials that Russia and Iran have been involved in hybrid attacks and sabotage activities. Both Moscow and Tehran have denied involvement in such operations.

The latest disruptions have also raised concerns about possible links to cyberattacks. This week, unidentified hackers reportedly disrupted refrigeration systems in supermarkets across several European countries.

Some security experts believe the false bomb alerts and cyber incidents could be part of a broader strategy to disrupt critical services at relatively low cost while making it difficult to identify those responsible.

Eliran Alamog, chief executive of aviation cybersecurity firm Cyviation, said repeated threats could serve two purposes: disrupting air traffic and testing how airlines, airports and national authorities respond to security incidents.

He noted that simultaneous disruptions in aviation and other essential services could cause economic damage and undermine public confidence.

Despite the growing concern, the identity of those behind the incidents and whether the separate attacks are connected remain unclear.

END/SMA/AJ