An Aer Lingus flight was among 14 services across Europe disrupted by bomb threats on Thursday, according to RTE.ie. The aircraft was diverted, and a passenger on board described the alert as "terrifying," RTE.ie reports.
A second passenger account, published by the Irish Independent, described the scene as "madness" as the plane was redirected. The Irish Times reported that the Aer Lingus service and a flight at Cork Airport were both among the European services affected.
The Guardian put the number of disrupted flights at no fewer than 15 and reported that the incidents have raised concerns about hybrid warfare. The outlets did not agree on the exact total, with RTE.ie citing 14 flights and The Guardian reporting at least 15.
Few operational details have been confirmed publicly, including the nature of the threats, how they were received, or where the diverted Aer Lingus aircraft landed. No injuries have been reported in the coverage reviewed.
The scale of the disruption — multiple flights across several countries affected within a short period — has drawn attention from security analysts and aviation authorities alike. Further statements from airlines, airports and police are expected as investigations into the threats continue.
What to watch next: whether authorities attribute the threats to a coordinated campaign, and what security measures European carriers and airports announce in response.
