Series of bomb threats cause flight disruptions across Europe

LONDON — Bomb and security threats disrupted passenger flights across Europe Thursday, the latest in a series of incidents that have prompted emergency landings and security sweeps this week.

No explosives have so far been found, and it is not clear who or what is behind the calls. But the threats alone have caused disruption to Europe’s airspace and some of its busiest airports.

An Aer Lingus flight EI402 from Dublin to Rome carrying more than 150 people was diverted to a French Air Force base earlier Thursday, the airline said.

A bomb squad was at the Évreux-Fauville Air and Space Force base and all 151 passengers and six crew aboard the Aer Lingus flight had been moved to a safe place, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office said in a statement.

A Finnair flight from Helsinki was escorted by Italian Air Force jets to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport “following anonymous reports of a suspected bomb threat,” according to a spokesperson for the city’s airport authority.

“Police bomb disposal experts have initiated security protocols, with safety checks currently underway,” they said.

A ⁠spokesperson for Finnair ​said ​one ⁠of ‌its flights to ‌Rome had ‌landed ⁠as normal after receiving a ‌bomb ​threat.

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports