In what appears to be a banner day for people with too much time and a grudge against air travel, seven bomb threats were reported across European flights on Sunday - all of which were subsequently confirmed as false alarms. The affected flights, because of course there were seven, included a LOT Polish Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Warsaw Okęcie that was diverted to Warsaw Modlin (with timestamps 10:33, 10:58, 12:00, 13:57), an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Warsaw Okęcie (11:33, 12:59), a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Murcia (12:44, 13:44), a Ryanair flight from Lisbon to Rome (15:02), a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Rome, a WizzAir flight from Bergamo to Sofia (15:41), and a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Sofia.
The UK government, presumably eager to reassure the public that the sky isn't actually falling, confirmed that two of the planes had departed from British airports. A spokesperson offered the kind of statement that's designed to sound reassuring while quietly acknowledging that hoaxes are now a semi-regular feature of modern life: "The UK has one of the most robust aviation security systems in the world, with well-tested processes for dealing with any potential threats, as well as malicious hoax threats, like those we've seen today. Our world-leading police and intelligence agencies work closely every day to keep us safe, using the tools they have to assess and respond to potential threats."
It's worth noting, because apparently we must, that this isn't an isolated incident. On 18 October, an Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna diverted to Sofia after a reported bomb threat while over Romania, according to Reuters. And just yesterday, 2 November, a WizzAir flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest after a bomb threat (10:44). So if you're planning to fly anytime soon, maybe pack a book and lower your expectations.
Reuters also had to issue a correction: the flight from Bergamo to Sofia was operated by WizzAir, not Ryanair. Because when you're covering seven bomb threats in one day, someone's going to mix up their budget airlines. The tally at the top of the page was updated accordingly, presumably with a sigh.
Meanwhile, in Bulgaria, the transport ministry told Reuters that the bomb threats were actually made against two planes from Bergamo in Italy and Dublin in Ireland - not from Israel as previously reported. So that's cleared up. That brings the total to seven planes (that we know of), which is a sentence no one enjoys typing.
Back in Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was having a busy day of his own, rejecting Russia's suggestion of a meeting in Moscow as "counterproductive." He said what's needed is serious talks, not a gimmick - a diplomatic way of saying "nice try, but no." He also insisted that Russia has no advantage on the frontline at the moment, which is the kind of thing you say when you're trying to project confidence while bombs are literally falling.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, standing alongside Zelenskyy, added that the 19 November meeting will decide further support for Ukraine in 2027. And with that, the press conference concluded - presumably because everyone had had enough excitement for one day.
In Italy, two more false bomb threats were reported involving Ryanair flights from Lisbon and Dublin to Rome's Fiumicino Airport, according to La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera. The plane from Dublin was escorted by two Italian air force fighter jets - because nothing says "routine security check" like scrambling military aircraft. In both cases, routine checks were confirmed as negative, meaning no threat was identified, SkyTG24 said. That brings the total of flights affected by false alarms today to at least six, up from four reported earlier (that we know of).
Zelenskyy, asked about his expectations for the Abu Dhabi talks, said he hopes to see future security guarantees for Ukraine covered, alongside a "prosperity package" that would help with reconstruction. He also said he hopes to discuss a proposal on energy and a Black Sea truce, which is "in the interest of not only Ukraine, but also Russia and various nations in Africa." He reiterated that "there can be no stable peace unless Europe is at the negotiating table." Merz, for his part, said that "it is crucial for Russia to finally engage in serious negotiations."
Zelenskyy thanked Germany for its continued help, including on air defence, and noted that while many people will be following the US midterm elections today, "the role of Europe - and specifically Germany - remains crucial." He said he briefed Merz on the latest attacks on Ukraine and confirmed the upcoming Abu Dhabi talks on 10-11 November, which he hopes "will pave the way for a trilateral meeting at the level of heads of states and government." He also confirmed further talks on Ukraine in Brussels on Wednesday, as per the European Commission's announcement earlier, and that the coalition of the willing will meet in Berlin on 19 November.
Merz began by saying Zelenskyy's visit comes "at a critical moment" as Russian attacks on Ukraine continued with "undiminished - indeed, increasing - severity and ruthlessness." He said Ukraine "can continue to rely on Germany," with more support from Berlin in the coming months, including on air defence, energy, and broader winter-related aid. Merz also warned that the outcome of the war in Ukraine "will determine European security for a long time to come." He said Germany will be coordinating with France and the UK and will host a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Berlin later this month.
The German chancellor also spoke of growing concerns about the broader effects of the continuing war, including a potential "global food crisis" triggered by Russia's continued attacks on trading routes in the Black Sea. He said the upcoming Abu Dhabi talks are "the right step forward," and Europe hopes to play its part. In the meantime, Berlin and partners will "increase the pressure on Moscow and continue to support Ukraine." So, to recap: seven bomb hoaxes, one diplomatic snub, and a whole lot of fighter jet escorts. Just another Sunday in Europe.