Expert says scale of 15 European flights’ bomb threats suggests unusually deliberate hoaxes

Flights diverted or inspected

Two other flights scheduled to arrive at Milan Malpensa also landed safely after receiving bomb alerts, ANSA reported. They were Aegean Airlines flight A3552 from Thessaloniki and Ryanair flight FR8953 from Porto; explosives technicians were inspecting the aircraft.

More threats reported this week

Thursday’s incidents followed at least seven other bomb threats against flights across Europe this week. Those cases led to aircraft searches and diversions, and one aircraft was escorted by an Italian fighter jet.

Authorities have reported no explosives on any of the jets described in the Thursday incidents. The threats appeared to be hoaxes, but officials have not established a connection among them or said who may be responsible.

Expert calls incidents unusual

Air transport security expert Paul Mason told the BBC that threats against passenger planes do not happen often, making this week’s series unusual. He said airline crews and ground staff follow processes to assess whether threats are credible.

The article also places the flight threats amid cyberattacks on European grocery-store refrigeration systems and French blood banks. French authorities said security systems prevented the loss of blood stored in cooling units.

Broader security concerns

A CBS News investigation in March found that a group appeared to have links to Iran. A member said the group would continue threatening U.S. and Israeli interests worldwide and urged people to avoid those interests and individuals.