Hoax bomb threats ground flights across Europe, disrupting travel to Italy

At least 25 flights were hit by false bomb alerts across Europe on Thursday, according to reporting from France 24, Deutsche Welle and the Guardian. An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to France's Évreux military airbase after a threat was reported; a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome and a Wizz Air service from Milan to Warsaw were also affected. The New York Times reported that passengers recounted landing at military bases and enduring security checks and travel delays after the threats proved unfounded.

The threats claimed to originate from "fighters of the Male State", described by France 24 as a far-right Russian group. The EU transport commissioner told the Guardian it was "too early" to say whether the threats were coordinated. Deutsche Welle noted that no explosives were found on any of the aircraft. The disruption marks the latest in a pattern of hoax alerts that have targeted European aviation this week, with the Guardian reporting more than 30 planes subjected to security alerts or diversions since Monday.

For Emilia-Romagna, the disruptions carry direct operational weight. Bologna's Marconi Airport and the routes connecting the region to Rome, Milan and international hubs are part of the broader European network that absorbed Thursday's diversions. The threats underscore vulnerabilities in continental air traffic that affect not only tourism and business travel but also the supply chains that move the region's food exports and engineering products across borders. The incident follows weeks of elevated security concerns across Europe, including earlier warnings of potential Iranian strikes on military bases in Italy.