Bomb threats across airlines in several European countries disrupt travel around continent

Several flights across Europe received alleged bomb threats on Tuesday that ultimately turned out to be hoaxes but prompted searches, diversions and, in one case, an escort by the Italian Air Force until landing, officials said.The impacted airlines included Polish airline LOT, Scandinavian Airlines, Wizz Air and Ryanair.The incidents came a day after a plane headed for Bulgaria was diverted to Hungary after receiving a similar bomb threat while in the air.

No one was injured.Matthew Borie of Osprey Flight Solutions, which advises airlines on flight threats, laid out several hypotheses for the as-yet unexplained incidents: A single threat triggers copycat incidents; an individual or a group makes multiple threats; or operations of “hybrid warfare” by state actors or their supporters.Such threats were “not a new phenomenon” and come at a time of increased geopolitical tensions and signs of “disruption,” like attacks on supermarket refrigeration systems, drone incursions in Europe and mysterious triggers to alert apps — even as authorities have warned that hybrid threats abound.The focus on Europe means “there could be a Russian angle,” said Borie, the company’s co-founder and chief intelligence officer.“We need to keep in mind, though, that Iranian hybrid warfare is just as active in certain pockets of Europe as well.”His message for travelers? “Don’t be alarmed,” he said, noting “coordinated response mechanisms” by national authorities — including, at times, the deployment of NATO fighter jets to escort such planes.A Ryanair flight from Lisbon landed in Rome’s Fiumicino airport Tuesday morning after receipt of an email reporting a bomb was on board, according to information provided by a Fiumicino official with knowledge of the events.Police bomb disposal experts carried out security checks of passengers, crew and baggage and found no explosives.There was also a bomb threat reported on another Ryanair flight to Rome from Dubli...