Spate of bomb threats poses serious challenge to airline industry
Summary
At least 32 bomb threats affected a dozen airlines over four days, forcing flight diversions, inspections and other emergency measures. All threats described in the report were hoaxes, but experts say airlines must treat each one as real until they can rule out danger; investigators have few clear leads on who sent them.Key Facts
- Threats reportedly arrived by phone and email and disrupted flights across Europe.
- Some aircraft were escorted by military jets, inspected in flight or diverted to other airports.
- An Aer Lingus flight landed at an airbase about 1,000 kilometers from its planned destination after running low on fuel.
- Aviation experts say airlines follow safety procedures for each threat, including searching aircraft after landing.
- The report says the incidents directly affected a few thousand passengers and may cost airlines money.
- An aviation security expert said the targets appeared random and that there was little credible information about who was behind the threats.
- A group reportedly claimed responsibility for some incidents in emails, but its founder later denied the claim.
- Under the U.K.’s Aviation Security Act 1982, intentionally sending false information that endangers an aircraft is a serious crime punishable by up to life imprisonment.
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