New wave of bomb threats over European skies

A new wave of hoax bomb threats has hit European air traffic, with direct consequences also for connections to and from Italy. The sources gathered do not agree on a single number of flights involved: according to what was reported by La Discussione and Speak Up News, 27 European flights would be affected, ten of which connected to Italy. ANSA, for its part, reports at least five flights to or from Italy involved in the wave on November 5, 2026, while la Repubblica counted at least 18 bomb threats in European skies, six of which in Italy. The figures therefore remain unreconciled between the different sources.

On the operational front, several aircraft were escorted by military fighter jets and some flights were diverted. An Aer Lingus Airbus A320 that departed from Dublin bound for Rome made an emergency landing in Évreux, France, after being escorted by French fighter jets. A Wizz Air Airbus A321 that departed from Milan Malpensa bound for Warsaw was diverted to Vienna. A Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome, on the other hand, landed regularly at Fiumicino, around 9:30 a.m., escorted by Italian Air Force jets: subsequent sweeps of the aircraft and luggage came back negative.

The threats reportedly arrived via email signed by a group calling itself “Fighters of the Male State”. Authorities are investigating possible coordination at the European level behind the new wave of reports, which comes after previous similar episodes in recent weeks.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto commented on the episode with a direct formula: “It is the strategy of chaos”.

In none of the reported cases was a device found on board the aircraft involved. The investigation by European investigative and airport authorities into the origin of the threats and into a possible common design behind the messages received by the airlines remains open at this time.