Aerial view of the terminal and control tower at Athens International Airport. Photo: Aviation Week

EU Makes Arrests Over False Bomb Threats on Flights

12 Nov 2026, 12:09 by Bill Giannopoulos · Greek City Times

European authorities have made arrests following a wave of false bomb threats targeting flights across Europe, with investigations continuing to identify those responsible.

European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas confirmed the arrests on Wednesday during a briefing with Greek journalists in Brussels.

He said approximately 40 to 45 bomb threats were reported last week, all of which were ultimately found to be hoaxes.

“Arrests have already been made in some cities. I cannot say more on this matter because an investigation is underway,” Tzitzikostas said, without disclosing where the arrests took place or providing further details.

He added that investigators were examining multiple potential sources, indicating that the threats did not originate from a single location or individual.

Four flights diverted following threats

Of the more than 40 reported incidents, only four resulted in aircraft being diverted to airports other than their intended destinations.

The threats were delivered through different methods, including telephone calls and emails directed at airports and airlines.

The incidents stopped on the evening of Friday, November 6, although authorities have not established why the wave of threats ended.

Among the affected services were two AEGEAN flights targeted by false bomb threats on November 5. Both incidents prompted the activation of aviation security protocols, but the threats were subsequently determined to be unfounded.

Asked about the financial consequences for airlines and the wider aviation industry, Tzitzikostas said no official assessment was available.

However, he suggested the limited number of diversions indicated that the overall financial impact had remained relatively contained.

EU rules out additional security measures for now

European aviation security officials met in Brussels on Wednesday to assess the incidents and determine whether additional measures were required.

The meeting followed Tzitzikostas’ visit to EUROCONTROL headquarters the previous week, where discussions focused on operational preparedness and coordination between European aviation authorities, airports and airlines.

For now, the European Commission does not consider additional security measures necessary.

“The answer is clear: at this point, no additional measures are necessary,” Tzitzikostas said.

He stressed that existing airport security checks remained in place and were continuing as normal, while leaving open the possibility of further action if the situation changed.

Cyberattacks emerge as another aviation concern

Separately, Tzitzikostas warned that the growing threat of cyberattacks posed another significant challenge for European aviation.

“The risk of cyberattacks in the coming period is real,” he said, emphasising the importance of preparedness.

The need for closer international cooperation on aviation security was also raised at Tuesday’s Global Tourism Forum in Brussels.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security Nick Careen called for improved information sharing, clearly defined responsibilities and proportionate security responses.

The latest incidents have highlighted the vulnerability of European aviation operations to coordinated disruption, even when threats ultimately prove to be false.

Source: European Commission briefing, as reported by Greek Travel Pages (GTP Headlines).

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