Two Copenhagen planes searched after hoax bomb threats hit 27 European flights

At least 27 European flights were hit by hoax bomb threats on the morning of Thursday 5 November 2026, triggering unplanned landings, fighter jet escorts and aircraft searches from Ireland to Bulgaria. Police in Denmark said two planes were searched at Copenhagen airport, and a flight from Copenhagen was among those that made an emergency landing in Bulgaria.

Key facts

• At least 27 flights were affected on Thursday 5 November 2026, the second such wave this week.
• Airlines operating from Ireland to Bulgaria were targeted, with disruptions reported in Denmark, Poland, Romania, France, Italy, Spain and Czechia.
• Two planes were searched at Copenhagen airport, Danish police said.
• No incendiary devices were found after security checks were carried out in several locations.
• On Tuesday, at least seven flights and a cruise ship received bomb threats, with no devices discovered.

What happened?

Hoax bomb threats were sent to European airlines on Thursday morning. Some of the affected flights made unplanned landings, while others were escorted by fighter jets. Security checks were carried out in several locations and no incendiary devices were found.

In France, the office of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said fighter jets were sent to intercept an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome and escorted it to an air force base at Evreux, after the pilot did not co-operate with authorities as expected. No reason was given for the pilot's behaviour.

In Italy, two planes landed as planned in Milan and the air force escorted a Finnair flight from Helsinki to its scheduled landing in Rome, Italian news agency ANSA said. The operator of Rome's Fiumicino Airport reported no disruption to services. Finnair said another flight from Helsinki, operated by Jettime, landed normally in Vienna after receiving a bomb threat.

Which countries and airports were affected?

Spain's Guardia Civil said it received three emailed bomb threats in under 20 minutes from around 9 a.m. local time, involving two Air Europa departures from Madrid to Paris and four inbound Iberia flights from Rome and Milan. Several aircraft were halted or sent back to their stands and passengers were disembarked while the planes were inspected.

In Czechia, two EasyJet flights from Britain, one flight from Ireland and one from Greece landed as scheduled in Prague after receiving bomb threats. Czech police said they assessed the credibility of the threats as low.

Bulgarian officials reported three aircraft, all under the Ryanair banner, making emergency landings. Bulgaria's interior minister said planes from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia, and local media reported that a third aircraft from London landed in Plovdiv. Bulgaria's Transport Ministry said operations at both airports soon returned to normal after inspections identified no issues.

In Poland, airline LOT said a flight from Warsaw to Brussels landed safely after a security warning and no threat was confirmed. "No suspicious items were found," a LOT spokesperson said. A flight from Cork in Ireland was delayed 90 minutes after the airport received a threat, and at Copenhagen airport two planes were searched, police said.

Why is this happening?

No country has attributed blame for Thursday's threats. They come at a time when many European officials have accused Russia of masterminding sabotage and "hybrid attacks" — cheap, easily deniable acts not expected to trigger an armed response. Denmark, Poland and Romania, all affected by Thursday's disruptions, have previously accused Moscow directly, while Germany blamed Russia for a drone attack on Leipzig airport in August. Britain has blamed Russia in the past but linked Iran to a suspected plot to attack a U.S. airbase. Both Russia and Iran deny any involvement.

Joji Waites, director of flight safety for the British Airline Pilots' Association, said it is industry practice for airlines not to act on threats unless assessors rate them as credible. Eliran Almog, CEO of aviation cybersecurity firm Cyviation, said repeated threats can serve both to disrupt operations and to observe how airlines, airports and national authorities respond.

What this means for travellers

Passengers flying to, from or through the affected airports — including Copenhagen, Prague, Sofia, Plovdiv, Madrid, Milan, Rome and Vienna — may face aircraft searches, disembarkation, delays or unscheduled stops. Travellers on these routes should check their flight status with the airline before leaving for the airport.

The threats on Thursday followed a similar wave on Tuesday, when at least seven flights and a cruise ship received threats and no devices were discovered. No country has said who is responsible, and no further dates or measures have been announced.