Bomb threats made against numerous European flights – media companies also threatened

A bomb threat is a message or warning claiming that an explosive device is present or will be used. It can be sent to an airport, aircraft, building, or media organization. The threat itself is information, not proof that a bomb exists. Authorities must still treat it seriously because ignoring a genuine warning could endanger lives.

An actual explosive device is a physical object found during a search. In this case, no explosives were found on the affected flights or in the buildings mentioned. Aircraft nevertheless landed safely, and bomb teams inspected planes after several threats, including four involving aircraft in French airspace.

The difference matters because a false threat can still cause major disruption. Flights may be delayed, diverted, or escorted, while buildings may be checked and security plans activated. The article reports that all named aircraft landed safely, but investigations into the threats continued across Europe.

The threats were geographically broad. The article names France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, Bulgaria, and the United Kingdom as countries whose airports were linked to affected flights. It also reports that threats had disrupted dozens of flights since Tuesday. The precise total of airports is not given.

Specific figures show the scale. At least eight flights arriving at or departing from Prague Airport received threats on Friday. Two aircraft heading to Sofia were threatened, one from London Stansted and one from Brussels. Four more threats concerned aircraft flying in French airspace. Hungarian fighter jets escorted several threatened passenger planes.

Media organizations were also involved. Bulgaria’s Nova TV and Ireland’s RTÉ received emails, while Britain’s Sky reported a security threat. The article does not provide an exact total for affected media organizations or all flights. Investigations continued, and no explosives were found.

A bomb threat activates precautionary measures, even when nobody knows whether it is genuine. Authorities may inspect an aircraft, restrict movement, alert emergency teams, and coordinate with airport or national security officials. The aim is to protect passengers and staff while investigators assess the warning.

The article gives several examples. Bomb teams checked aircraft connected with four threats in French airspace. Hungarian fighter jets escorted planes traveling from Brussels to Sofia and from Prague toward Cyprus and Bucharest. Two aircraft heading to Sofia, from London Stansted and Brussels, also landed safely. At Prague, threats involved flights arriving from Denmark, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

These actions can disrupt normal travel without an explosion occurring. The article reports that no explosives were found and all aircraft landed safely. Media organizations also carried out security assessments and informed authorities. The continuing investigations show that authorities must respond first and verify the claim afterward.

The article provides clues, but not proof, about the sender. Emails sent to Bulgaria’s Nova TV and Ireland’s RTÉ used the nickname “Mihail Andropov.” The messages were titled “Message to the West” and claimed responsibility for threats disrupting passenger flights across Europe. An RTÉ journalist said the warning came from the same group as the aviation threats.

Several parts remain uncertain. Reuters could not verify the sender’s identity, the origin of the emails, or whether they came from the same source as threats affecting dozens of flights since Tuesday. The group’s name was not reported. The article also says there is no evidence establishing who is behind the bomb threats.

Jukka Savolainen said Russia should at least be considered because it had used bomb threats in earlier influence operations. That is an expert’s possibility, not a confirmed attribution. Authorities were investigating the origin across Europe, while no explosives had been found.

Jukka Savolainen said bomb threats had previously been used as influence operations. He pointed to Moldova, where hundreds of threats were made around elections in 2024 and 2025. According to his explanation, the purpose was to prevent Moldova from turning away from Russia’s sphere of influence and moving toward the West.

The mechanism is political disruption. Repeated warnings can force officials to evacuate places, interrupt public activity, consume police resources, and make voters or institutions feel unsafe. Even if searches find nothing, the campaign can create uncertainty and pressure. The article presents the Moldovan example as a precedent for using threats as a tool rather than simply as an attempt to cause an explosion.

Savolainen suggested that the current European campaign might seek to reduce European support for Ukraine or encourage acceptance of a peace agreement dictated by Russia. He argued that Europe should not give fear room, but should respond through penalties, restrictions, and sanctions.

Transportation and news organizations reach large parts of society in different ways. Threatening aircraft can interrupt journeys, trigger security operations, and make people fear traveling. Threatening newsrooms can attract publicity and pressure organizations that inform the public. Together, these targets can make an incident feel broader and more urgent.

The article describes this combination directly. Flights across Europe received warnings, while Bulgaria’s Nova TV, Ireland’s RTÉ, and Britain’s Sky also reported threats. Emails to Nova TV and RTÉ were titled “Message to the West” and described the aviation threats as the beginning of attacks against vehicles across Europe. The media became both a target and a channel for the message.

The shared campaign remains unproven in every detail. Reuters could not confirm the emails’ origin or whether they came from the same source as the flight threats, although an RTÉ journalist said the sources matched. No explosives were found, but the disruption and publicity still created pressure.

Hybrid warfare is a way of pursuing political goals through a mix of methods, including intimidation, disruption, information operations, and other pressure. The article discusses the threats as possible influence operations. Their effect does not depend only on an explosion. A credible-looking warning can force authorities and organizations to change their behavior.

The mechanism is fear multiplied by public disruption. A threat may lead to aircraft inspections, fighter escorts, emergency responses, and travel interruptions. It may also draw extensive news coverage. Savolainen suggested that the current goal could be to make Europe limit support for Ukraine or accept a Russian-dictated peace agreement. The threats therefore could pressure both institutions and public opinion.

The article does not prove that Russia organized the campaign. Savolainen said Russia was one possibility because of earlier bomb-threat operations, including in Moldova. No explosives were found, yet investigations continued across Europe. Savolainen urged Europe to respond with penalties, restrictions, and sanctions rather than allowing fear to shape policy.