Anonymous tip-off about explosives on Ryanair planes from Lisbon and Dublin prompted fighter jet escort; similar false alerts reported across Europe on Tuesday.Two Ryanair flights landing at Rome’s Fiumicino airport on Tuesday morning were the subject of a bomb hoax, with searches finding nothing suspicious.An anonymous caller reported that explosive devices were on board flights from Lisbon and Dublin, which landed at Leonardo da Vinci airport at 09.40 and 10.44 respectively. Italy’s air force scrambled fighter jets to escort the aircraft until they touched down. Once the planes were on the ground, security procedures were activated, with checks carried out on the aircraft, passengers and luggage. Bomb disposal experts also carried out searches. The operations ended shortly after midday with negative results. Airport operator Aeroporti di Roma said there was no disruption for passengers.   Alerts across Europe Bomb threats were reported on several other flights in Europe on Tuesday, according to news agency Reuters and Italian media, although no devices were found. In Poland, a LOT Polish Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw, carrying 181 people, was diverted to Modlin airport, which was briefly closed while the plane was searched. It reopened after no device was found. A flight from Copenhagen landed as scheduled at Warsaw’s Chopin airport, which remained operational. In Bulgaria, a plane arriving in Sofia from Israel landed after a bomb threat was received by email, Reuters reported, citing the BTA news agency. Counter-terrorism units checked the aircraft. In Spain, security protocols were activated in Murcia for a flight from Manchester, according to the Spanish government’s representative in the region, Francisco Lucas. On Monday, a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest after a bomb threat, according to Hungary’s defence minister. It was escorted by a Hungarian fighter jet. Italian media reported that investigators have not ruled out a link between the various alerts. Photo credit: travelview / Shutterstock.com

Two Ryanair flights landing at Rome’s Fiumicino airport on Tuesday morning were the subject of a bomb hoax, with searches finding nothing suspicious. An anonymous caller reported that explosive devices were on board flights from Lisbon and Dublin, which landed at Leonardo da Vinci airport at 09.40 and 10.44 respectively. Italy’s air force scrambled fighter jets to escort the aircraft until they touched down. Once the planes were on the ground, security procedures were activated, with checks carried out on the aircraft, passengers and luggage. Bomb disposal experts also carried out searches. The operations ended shortly after midday with negative results. Airport operator Aeroporti di Roma said there was no disruption for passengers.   Bomb threats were reported on several other flights in Europe on Tuesday, according to news agency Reuters and Italian media, although no devices were found. In Poland, a LOT Polish Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw, carrying 181 people, was diverted to Modlin airport, which was briefly closed while the plane was searched. It reopened after no device was found. A flight from Copenhagen landed as scheduled at Warsaw’s Chopin airport, which remained operational. In Bulgaria, a plane arriving in Sofia from Israel landed after a bomb threat was received by email, Reuters reported, citing the BTA news agency. Counter-terrorism units checked the aircraft. In Spain, security protocols were activated in Murcia for a flight from Manchester, according to the Spanish government’s representative in the region, Francisco Lucas. On Monday, a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest after a bomb threat, according to Hungary’s defence minister. It was escorted by a Hungarian fighter jet. Italian media reported that investigators have not ruled out a link between the various alerts. Photo credit: travelview / Shutterstock.com