Several European airports heightened security measures on Tuesday following bomb threats involving flights in Spain, Poland and Bulgaria, prompting aircraft inspections and passenger security checks.
In Spain, authorities activated security protocols after a plane arriving from Manchester landed at Murcia International Airport. The aircraft’s 114 passengers and seven crew members disembarked and underwent security checks, while officials inspected the plane for potential threats.
The aircraft landed as scheduled at the airport in Corvera. Other flights continued operating normally during the security operation.
In Poland, Warsaw Modlin Airport was temporarily closed after a bomb threat involving a flight from London.
The Boeing 737 MAX, which was travelling from London Heathrow to Warsaw Chopin Airport, was diverted to Modlin and landed at 10:01 a.m. local time with 181 people on board.
The aircraft was moved to a designated area while security personnel investigated the threat and carried out inspections. Passengers began disembarking and were instructed to wait in the airport’s arrivals hall.
In Bulgaria, counterterrorism officers were deployed at Sofia Airport after authorities received an emailed bomb threat involving a plane arriving from Israel.
The aircraft made an emergency landing, prompting security personnel to inspect it. Authorities did not initially disclose the airline, flight number, passenger count or the aircraft’s precise route. Details of the email and the nature of the alleged threat were also not made public.
Officials were expected to provide further information about the incident and the security measures taken.
The incidents followed two earlier security alerts involving flights bound for Bulgaria.
On Monday, a Wizz Air flight travelling from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest following a bomb threat. Security checks found no explosive device, and the aircraft later continued its journey to Bulgaria.
On October 18, an Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna was diverted to Sofia after a similar threat. Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter jets escorted the aircraft, which resumed its journey to Vienna after security inspections found no threat.
