Bomb threats trigger security alerts at airports across Europe

Spanish authorities began searching a Ryanair plane after a bomb threat involving a flight from Manchester that landed Tuesday in the southeastern city of Murcia, authorities said.

“Security procedures have been activated following a bomb threat involving a plane from Manchester that has landed in Murcia,” Francisco Lucas, the Spanish government’s representative in Murcia, posted on US social media platform X.

“The 114 passengers and seven crew members have disembarked and are undergoing security checks,” he added. “The aircraft is now being inspected.”

The plane landed on schedule at Murcia’s international airport in Corvera, according to airport operator Aena.

Other flights continued to operate at the airport normally, Aena told regional newspaper La Opinion de Murcia.

Poland and Bulgaria also reported bomb threats involving flights on Tuesday.

Warsaw Modlin Airport temporarily closed after a bomb threat involving a flight from London, according to the airport.

In the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, counterterrorism officers were deployed to inspect a plane arriving from Israel after authorities received a threat by email, according to local news agency BTA.

Polish airport closes after bomb threat involving flight from London

Warsaw-Modlin Airport in Poland was closed until further notice after a flight from London was diverted there following a reported bomb threat, the airport said in a statement.

The Boeing 737 MAX, originally bound for Warsaw Chopin Airport from London Heathrow, landed at Modlin at 10.01 am local time with 181 people on board.

The aircraft was directed to a designated area while authorities investigated the threat and carried out security checks.

Passengers began disembarking and were to wait in the arrivals hall, according to the statement.

Bomb threats trigger security alerts at airports across Europe

Plane from Israel makes emergency landing in Bulgaria after emailed threat

A plane arriving from Israel made an emergency landing at Sofia Airport following a threat received by email, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported, citing Interior Ministry Secretary General Lyubomir Nikolov.

Authorities did not initially disclose the airline, flight details, number of passengers or the aircraft’s exact route.

The content of the email threat was also not made public.

It was not immediately clear whether it referred to a possible explosive device.

Bulgarian authorities are expected to provide further details about the incident and the security measures taken.

On Monday, a Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest following a bomb threat. No explosive device was found during checks, and the aircraft later continued to Bulgaria.

On Oct. 18, an Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna was diverted to Sofia following a bomb threat. Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter jets escorted the aircraft, which continued to Vienna after security checks found no threat.