Travellers to Bulgaria hit by bomb-alert diversions to Sofia, Plovdiv

Bomb threats on 5 November forced airliners to make unplanned landings at airports across Europe, including three aircraft in Bulgaria, in the latest of a series of threats targeting flights in Europe. Travellers on the affected routes faced diversions, emergency landings and escorted arrivals.

Key facts

• 5 November 2026: bomb threats prompted unplanned landings across Europe
• Three aircraft landed in Bulgaria — two in Sofia, one in Plovdiv
• An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to Evreux, 100km west of Paris
• Earlier, on Tuesday, at least seven flights and a cruise ship received bomb threats; no devices were discovered
• No country has attributed blame for the threats

Which flights were affected?

Aer Lingus flight EI402 from Dublin to Rome landed safely at Evreux airport, 100km west of Paris, after being diverted as a security precaution, the Irish airline said. Belgian media reported that an airliner forced to land at Brussels' Zaventem airport belonged to Polish airline LOT.

A Finnair plane from Helsinki was safely escorted to its scheduled landing in Rome by the Italian Air Force, a source close to the matter said.

What happened in Bulgaria?

Bulgarian officials reported three aircraft making emergency landings because of bomb threats. Aircraft flying from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia, the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior said. A third aircraft, from London, landed in Plovdiv, local media said.

Is this part of a wider pattern?

On Tuesday, at least seven flights and a cruise ship received bomb threats, causing disruption at airports across Europe, although no devices were discovered. No country has attributed blame for the threats, but they come as European officials blame Russia and Iran for what they describe as "hybrid attacks" and acts of sabotage. Moscow and Tehran deny any such campaign.

Unidentified hackers also shut down fridges in supermarkets in several European countries this week. Some experts said hoax bomb threats could be part of a similar pattern of low-cost, deniable disruption efforts.

What this means for travellers

Passengers flying within or to Europe should be prepared for possible diversions, delays and heightened security checks if a threat is reported on their route. The source does not say whether further threats are expected or whether any airports have issued new guidance.

No further announcements, next steps or dates to watch were given in the source.