European flights delayed and diverted by second wave of hoax bomb threats

European airlines and airports faced a second day of major flight disruptions within a week after a fresh wave of hoax bomb threats targeted flights across the region on November 5, 2026. Paddley Too, the BBC, and PYOK all reported that law enforcement agencies took a cautious approach to the incoming calls and emails, which resulted in widespread delays and multiple flight diversions. [1][3][8]

The total number of impacted flights reported by news outlets varied. Paddley Too and CBC both reported that at least 27 flights were targeted by the bomb threats. CBC added that the incidents forced emergency landings at several European airports. AeroTime reported that at least 25 flights were hit, while POLITICO.eu put the figure at at least 15 additional flights. [1][4][5][6][7]

The hoaxes also triggered security protocols in the air and on the ground. NBC News and AeroTime both reported that the threats triggered diversions, with AeroTime reporting that military fighter jets were scrambled to escort affected aircraft. NBC News added that law enforcement officers conducted tarmac searches of planes following the reports. [2][5][6]

The disruptions follow a similar series of false reports earlier in the week. As FTMQ Travel reported earlier, flights across Europe faced emergency diversions, tarmac searches, and fighter jet escorts on November 3, 2026. Carriers hit by the earlier incidents included LOT Polish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Wizz Air, and Ryanair. AeroXplorer and Security Today reported that European airlines are currently weighing their response as they manage the ongoing wave of false calls. [9][10][14][15]