Bomb Threats Hit Seven Flights and a Cruise Ship Across Europe

Who is behind a wave of fake bomb threats that rattled European skies? A series of threats against passenger flights on Tuesday forced emergency searches, with at least seven flights and an Israel-bound cruise ship targeted. Officials said every threat was false, all planes landed safely, and no explosives were found.

Ryanair was hit hardest, with four flights targeted, while Wizz Air, SAS and LOT were also affected. Warsaw Chopin's runway was closed during an inspection, and a LOT flight was diverted to Warsaw Modlin, which briefly shut down. Greece's Coast Guard evacuated the cruise ship Crown Iris off Syros before it resumed toward Haifa.

No one has claimed responsibility for the hoaxes. European officials have previously accused Russia and Iran of hybrid attacks designed to disrupt daily life, claims both countries deny. Investigators will now try to trace the origin of the messages, while airlines and airports review how quickly false alarms can ground aircraft and strain travellers.