Four passenger flights, including two departing from the UK, were diverted after separate bomb threats triggered emergency landings across Europe.
Two of the affected aircraft were bound for Poland, while another was flying to Spain and a fourth was headed to Bulgaria.
A LOT Polish Airlines flight left London Heathrow this morning for Warsaw-Chopin Airport but was diverted to Warsaw-Modlin after the alert was issued at 9.54am local time.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 landed safely at 10.01am. Security forces are now assessing the reported threat, a spokesperson for Warsaw-Modlin Airport said.
The airport remains closed following the alert. Officials said: ‘The safety of passengers, crew and airport employees is currently the highest priority.’
Around 118 passengers are believed to have been on board the flight.
A bomb threat was also reported on an SAS service travelling from Copenhagen to Warsaw. The aircraft landed at Chopin Airport and was undergoing checks, according to an airport spokesperson, who said normal operations were continuing.
Reports indicate that one runway at Chopin Airport has been closed.
A LOT Polish Airlines flight from Heathrow was diverted after a bomb threat
The LOT aircraft at Warsaw Modlin Airport after passengers were evacuated following the emergency landing
Passengers are seen being evacuated at Warsaw Chopin Airport after a bomb threat was reported on an SAS flight
Warsaw is served by two airports: Chopin, located within the city, and Modlin, which is mainly used by budget airlines and lies about 22 miles from the capital.
A LOT Polish Airlines spokesperson told Our News Outlet that the airline had been ‘notified by airport authorities of a potential security threat on board a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft operating flight LO286 from London to Warsaw.’
‘The aircraft was diverted to Warsaw Modlin Airport, where it landed and subsequently taxied to a designated parking stand. Relevant authorities are assessing the situation in accordance with established security procedures,’ the airline said.
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The incidents came a day after a fighter jet escorted a Wizz Air passenger aircraft travelling from London to Bulgaria following a bomb threat.
A Hungarian Gripen fighter was scrambled to accompany the aircraft, which made an emergency landing at Budapest Airport, Hungary’s defence minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said on Monday.
In a statement, the minister said the fighter jet was deployed ‘within minutes’ to escort the plane and ensure it landed safely.
‘Our soldiers have once again proven that they can be deployed immediately if necessary and can guarantee the security of Hungary’s airspace,’ he said.
The Airbus A321, bound for Sofia, departed London Luton shortly after 8.30am before turning back over Bosnia and Herzegovina after the alert was raised.
Authorities inspected the aircraft at Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt Airport. Wizz Air later confirmed that nothing suspicious had been discovered.
The aircraft, scheduled to land at Warsaw-Chopin Airport, was diverted to Warsaw Modlin
Mr Ruszin-Szendi said police carried out further security measures after the aircraft landed.
Wizz Air said: ‘Wizz Air confirms that today’s London Luton–Sofia flight was diverted to Budapest following a bomb threat received during the flight.
‘The aircraft diverted and landed safely at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport in accordance with the relevant security protocols and procedures, before taxiing to a designated stand, where the relevant authorities carried out the necessary security checks on the aircraft and passengers.
‘Wizz Air is co-operating fully with the authorities. The safety of passengers and crew remains our highest priority.’
The airline said officials would carry out the ‘necessary security checks on the aircraft and passengers’.
Flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 showed that the aircraft had been scheduled to arrive at Sofia International Airport at about 1.25pm local time.
However, the tracking map showed the A321 turning towards Hungary over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
