Hoax bomb threats disrupt flights across several European countries
No explosives were found on any targeted aircraft, and investigators are trying to trace the anonymous threats to their source.
Hoax bomb threats against commercial flights prompted security checks and at least one diversion at airports in several European countries on Friday, China's state news agency Xinhua reported.
Inspectors found no explosives on any of the aircraft, and all of them landed without serious incident.
Czech police said nine flights linked to Prague Airport were targeted, four arriving and five departing, and airport operations continued with little interruption.
Czech authorities have opened an inquiry into whether the threats are connected to similar warnings elsewhere in Europe.
In France, four aircraft flying over French territory were threatened, with three landing at Paris-Orly and one at Bordeaux, the prime minister's office said.
Bomb disposal teams inspected all four planes, and investigators are trying to determine where the alerts came from.
In Italy, a Wizz Air flight from Prague to Rome was diverted to Venice after a bomb threat, while a Ryanair flight from Rome was checked after landing in Lisbon, Italian news agency ANSA reported.
In Bulgaria, two aircraft arriving from London and Brussels were searched at Sofia Airport after threats sent by email, and nothing suspicious was found, Bulgarian broadcaster NOVA reported, citing the Transport and Communications Ministry.
Hungarian Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said on Facebook that fighter jets escorted several passenger planes through the country's airspace after bomb threats.
The latest incidents follow threats reported on Nov. 3 and Nov. 5, and more than 20 flights were affected on Thursday alone.
Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel said the people behind Thursday's threats remain unknown because the warnings were anonymous.
He said there is currently no evidence of state involvement, though he has not ruled it out.
British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the threats as malicious hoaxes and said Britain has strong aviation security systems and set procedures to handle them.
Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo warned that Europe faces increasingly varied forms of hybrid warfare and called on the EU and NATO to strengthen their preparedness.
