In brief
Bomb threats across Europe on November 6 shut down at least 18 flights and targeted media outlets such as RTÉ and Virgin Media. The threats affected routes to Lisbon, Rome, Prague and Sofia, with Hungarian fighter jets escorting three planes. Authorities have yet to identify the perpetrators, suspecting a coordinated effort.
In a coordinated campaign of bomb threats, flights across Europe and several news outlets were impacted on November 6, 2026, according to the Irish government and several news agencies.
At least 18 flights were disrupted that day, bringing the week’s total to more than fifty, according to the Guardian. The threats targeted flights to Lisbon, Portugal; Rome, Italy; Prague, Czech Republic; and Sofia, Bulgaria. Prague alone received nine separate threats, making it the most affected city.
Three of the planes were escorted by Hungarian fighter jets, the BBC reported, as authorities scrambled to ensure passenger safety.
The Irish prime minister’s office said media organisations RTÉ, Virgin Media, Newstalk and the Independent received threats Friday. "It is not known yet who is responsible for these threats, whether it is individuals or a centralised or coordinated effort," the statement said. "However, these threats come on the heels of the ongoing disruption to aviation around Europe caused by similar threats, and it seems likely that this is a coordinated campaign of disruption."
News organisations in Bulgaria and Britain also were targeted, according to the Guardian.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the threats might be linked to recent attacks on blood banks in France, though the connection was unclear. "When hackers attempted to alter the temperature of the refrigerators that store blood for transfusions, that blood was secured by a system that costs money; when you pay to buy that system, do we consider it defence spending or healthcare spending?" she said, as reported by Rome news outlet Corriere della Sera.
"When they tell us that the resources committed to defence and security are money taken away from healthcare or hospitals, that's nonsense, because … we need both," Meloni added.
The Guardian reported that a group appeared to claim responsibility for the threats. "This is only the beginning," the group allegedly said, but journalists could not substantiate the claim.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether these incidents stem from a single individual, a coordinated network, or multiple actors, leaving the public anxious about the safety of travel and media operations in the region.
