Wave of bomb threats against European airliners triggers diversions and tarmac searches

LONDON — A wave of bomb threats against passenger airliners caused chaos in the skies and airports of Europe on Thursday, the latest of such incidents this week that have prompted emergency landings and security sweeps on runways.

No explosives have so far been found, and it is not clear who or what is behind the security threats made against at least 14 airliners. But the threats have caused disruption to Europe’s airspace and some of its busiest airports.

The threats against two flights that landed in Rome came by email that cited opposition to “your feminist regime,” the airport confirmed to NBC News. Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, is a woman who has conservative views.

One of the first reports involved Aer Lingus Flight EI402 from Dublin to Rome, which changed course near Paris and diverted to a French air force base, the airline said. There, all 151 passengers and six crewmembers were evacuated while a bomb squad inspected the aircraft, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s office said in a statement.

From there, reports of threats in the skies over Europe arrived at a dizzying pace, triggering searches by cabin crews and then again by airport security crews on…

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