An Aer Lingus flight traveling from Dublin to Rome was forced to divert to a military air base in northern France on Thursday morning following a security alert. Flight EI402, an Airbus A320, issued an emergency signal while in transit, prompting the crew to land at Evreux air base as a precautionary measure.
The diversion is part of a wider series of security incidents affecting European aviation this week. Aviation authorities and law enforcement agencies are currently managing a spike in reports involving bomb threats against multiple flights across the continent. In a separate incident on Thursday, a Finnair flight en route from Helsinki to the Italian capital was also targeted by a bomb threat, though the aircraft continued its journey and landed as scheduled under the escort of air force jets.
Airlines Divert Flights Following Security Alerts
Aer Lingus confirmed that flight EI402 landed safely in Normandy. In a statement, the airline noted that it is working to re-accommodate passengers to their final destination. Meanwhile, a Wizz Air flight operating from Milan to Warsaw also declared an emergency and diverted to Vienna, Austria. Officials have not linked the Wizz Air diversion to a bomb threat, and the exact cause of that emergency alert remains under investigation.
These disruptions follow a surge in similar security alerts reported earlier in the week. On Tuesday, seven planes were subjected to emergency searches following anonymous reports. These included a flight from Manchester that diverted to Murcia, Spain, and a London Heathrow to Warsaw service. Two Ryanair flights—one departing from Dublin and another from Lisbon—were searched upon arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Airport. According to sources at the airport, police bomb disposal units conducted security protocols, ultimately clearing the aircraft after no explosives were discovered.
Aviation Incidents Involve Diverted Flights and Investigations
- Aer Lingus EI402: Diverted to Evreux, France; passengers reported safe.
- Finnair: Received threat on Rome-bound flight; escorted by jets, landed safely.
- Wizz Air: Diverted to Vienna; investigation into the emergency alert is ongoing.
- Earlier incidents: Seven flights searched on Tuesday; no explosives found.
As of Thursday, no explosive devices have been located on any of the aircraft involved in the recent security scares.
🚨Breaking: Flights diverted after mid-air bomb threats: An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to France's Évreux military airbase this morning, following a bomb threat. All 151 passengers and six crew are safe, with military bomb-disposal teams inspecting the… pic.twitter.com/DYLDORe5sX
