Aer Lingus A320 Diverts to Normandy After Bomb Threat

Aer Lingus operated an Airbus A320 from Dublin to Rome on Thursday, but the aircraft never reached its destination. Following a reported bomb threat, the plane diverted to the Evreux airbase in Normandy, France. The French prime minister’s office confirmed the incident and stated that the situation is under active monitoring by Sébastien Lecornu’s team. No further details regarding the nature of the threat or the condition of the passengers were released immediately.

Flight data from Flightradar24 showed the Aer Lingus aircraft turning near Paris and circling over the Evreux area. The crew declared an in-flight emergency during the maneuver. The diversion to a military facility in northern France provided a secure landing site away from civilian airports while authorities assessed the risk.

This incident is part of a sustained pattern of security disruptions affecting European aviation. On Tuesday, approximately ten European flights faced similar bomb threats. These threats forced the temporary closure of a Warsaw airport and prompted the Italian air force to scramble jets in Rome. Belgian media reported that a LOT Polish Airlines aircraft was also forced to land at Brussels Zaventem on Thursday. Additionally, a Finnair jet traveling from Helsinki was escorted by Italian air force planes to its scheduled arrival in Rome.

Bulgaria reported three separate emergency landings on Thursday due to bomb threats. According to the interior minister, aircraft from Copenhagen and Madrid landed in Sofia. A third plane, originating from London, landed in Plovdiv. On Tuesday, seven flights and one cruise ship received threats, disrupting operations at several airports. No explosive devices were found on any of the targeted vessels.

The recent threats follow a similar incident where a plane bound for Bulgaria was diverted to Hungary. European officials have suggested that these events may constitute hybrid attacks or acts of sabotage, pointing toward Russia and Iran as potential actors. Both Moscow and Tehran have denied involvement. Unidentified hackers also shut down refrigerators in supermarkets across several European countries this week. Experts have noted that low-cost, deniable disruptions like hoax bomb threats align with this broader pattern of interference.