EU Uncertain if Bomb Threats Linked, Says Transport Chief

The European Union has stated it is not yet clear if a series of hoax bomb alerts targeting European flights are linked, with officials emphasizing the need for further investigation.

Italian, French, and Bulgarian fighter jets were deployed to escort flights after at least 14 European flights were hit by bomb threats for the third consecutive day, according to authorities and airlines.

The threats primarily targeted low-cost carriers and flights to or from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Italy, with several flights being diverted or escorted by military aircraft.

All flights involved in the incidents landed safely, with no explosives found during inspections, as confirmed by multiple national authorities and airlines.

Ryanair, which has been targeted by at least seven bomb threats this week, reported that three flights from Madrid, Copenhagen, and London-Stansted were diverted or escorted by Bulgarian air force jets.

Finnair, Wizz Air, and Aer Lingus also reported incidents, with flights being rerouted or escorted by military aircraft, though no threats were found to be credible.

Authorities have not yet identified the origin or motives behind the threats, though they are being examined in the context of a rise in hybrid attacks in Europe, sometimes linked to Russia or Iran.