Venice and Rome airports caught in wave of European flight disruptions

A Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome and a Wizz Air service from Milan to Warsaw were among dozens of European aircraft hit by hoax bomb threats on Thursday, according to Deutsche Welle and The Local Italy. The Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a French military airbase near Evreux, while the Wizz Air jet was rerouted to Vienna. No explosives were found on any aircraft, and the alerts have been attributed to coordinated false claims, with some threats claiming to originate from a far-right Russian group.

The disruptions mark a significant coordinated wave of aviation security incidents in Europe. According to The Guardian, more than 30 flights were subjected to security alerts or diversions within a single week, affecting airports across Rome, Sofia, Warsaw and Spain. The New York Times reported that passengers endured military escorts, security checks and significant delays after landing at unscheduled locations.