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Avión comercial escoltado a lo lejos por dos cazas militares sobre el cielo europeo al atardecer
Imagen alusiva generada por EPM sobre la escolta militar a vuelos afectados por las falsas amenazas en Europa. · EPM

False bomb threats disrupt at least 18 flights in Europe

At least 18 flights across Europe were affected on Thursday by false bomb threats that led to diversions, military escorts and a temporary runway closure, with…

--- The context --- A new wave of false bomb threats affected at least 18 flights across several European countries on Thursday, including Spain, with security deployments, diversions and military jets, although authorities ruled out any explosives. Similar situations had already been reported on Tuesday in several European cities, raising concern among aviation authorities. --- The facts --- At Madrid-Barajas, reports about alleged explosives involved three flights: one bound for Paris and two arriving from Rome and Milan. According to Aena, they affected two Iberia aircraft and one Air Europa aircraft, and a security committee with the State Security Forces and Corps ruled out the threats after the checks. An aircraft between Dublin and Rome was diverted over French territory and two fighters forced it to land at Évreux air base, after the pilot initially refused to use the military facility. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu personally authorized the deployment of the fighters given the pilot lack of cooperation. Three Ryanair flights to Bulgaria, from Madrid, London and Copenhagen, were escorted by military aircraft, and a Finnair flight carrying 144 passengers was escorted by Italian fighters to Rome. Warsaw Chopin temporarily closed a runway after a threat against a LOT flight to Paris, Copenhagen deployed officers and specialists over false alarms on two aircraft, and Heathrow and Birmingham received reports judged not credible, with no interruptions. Wizz Air, Aer Lingus and Aegean were also involved. --- The positions --- The European Commission activated an information exchange mechanism among member states. Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas conveyed in reported speech that the situation was being followed closely, with contact with the affected states and with AESA, and that any threat against the civilian population was unacceptable. AESA explained that pilots, controllers and airport workers have specialized training, that the immediate risk from isolated false threats is low and that it will keep monitoring events. IATA condemned attempts to disrupt operations and asked authorities to investigate the origin of the threats. --- What remains unknown --- The Commission warned it is premature to determine whether all the incidents are related. Inspections have detected no explosives or real threat to passengers, and authorities are seeking to determine where the alerts came from. --- Unanswered questions --- Who is behind the reports that affected at least 18 European flights on Thursday? Is there a connection between the alerts this Thursday and those reported on Tuesday? Why did the pilot of the Dublin to Rome flight initially refuse to use Évreux air base? What measures will the European Commission adopt if the threats are repeated? --- EPM analysis --- The response was fast and coordinated, with security committees and military escorts, but each false alarm imposed diversions, closures and deployments that no authority can ignore even when the threat is ruled out after the checks. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, the day leaves a shared lesson for all of Europe: aviation safety worked because nobody waited to confirm the danger before acting, and that coordination among countries, airports and airlines must be protected as a common good that serves every passenger equally, regardless of origin, destination or the company they fly with, in a network that is only safe when everyone responds together and on time to each alert received across the continent on days like this.
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