Bomb hoaxes disrupt European air traffic; Rome and eastern routes targeted

At least 25 commercial flights across Europe were subjected to bomb threats or security diversions on Wednesday and Thursday, according to reporting by the Guardian, Deutsche Welle and France 24. An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a French military airbase near Evreux; Finnair and Wizz Air flights bound for Rome and Warsaw were similarly rerouted after false alerts. No explosives were found on any aircraft. The threats, some claiming to originate from "fighters of the Male State," a far-right Russian group, prompted military escorts and security checks that left passengers stranded and airlines scrambling to restore schedules.

The disruptions affected Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa airports, which handle significant air traffic across Europe. Deutsche Welle reported that flights to Warsaw, Barcelona, Sofia and Rome were among those affected, suggesting a pattern spanning both EU and non-EU destinations. The New York Times quoted passengers describing military escorts and extended security checks, with travel delays cascading across Europe's schedule.