Aer Lingus Pilots Cleared After Fighter Jet Interception Amid Europe-Wide Bomb Threat Crisis
The pilot and co-pilot of an Aer Lingus flight forced to land at a French airbase by fighter jets have been allowed to leave after questioning, as a wave of bomb hoaxes continues to disrupt commercial aviation across Europe.
French authorities interviewed the crew on Thursday following reports that the pilot initially declined an order to touch down at the Évreux facility. Rémi Coutin, public prosecutor for Évreux, confirmed that the men have been allowed to leave after questioning.
The incident unfolded as bomb threats affected almost 30 flights across Europe on Thursday. Police forces in various countries reported inspecting airports and aircraft, while Australian Federal Police in Sydney responded to a threat at Sydney Airport on Thursday night.
The Confrontation Over French Airspace
The flight had departed from Dublin on Thursday morning and was bound for Rome. According to a document shared with Italian airports and released by the Ansa news agency, a bomb had been planted on the Dublin flight and another on a plane from Helsinki as a strike against the “feminist regime.”
A pair of French military aircraft were dispatched to direct the Aer Lingus jet to the Évreux base once the bomb warning was received. Passengers were disembarked from the aircraft at Évreux and their baggage was searched. No explosives were found.
The Évreux prosecutor stated that the investigation aims to establish whether the request to land was refused and “whether this behaviour was likely to constitute one or more criminal offences”. The aircraft’s black box is to be examined as part of the investigation.
Aviation Unions Defend the Flight Deck
Aer Lingus said in a statement: “The captain and crew on Aer Lingus flight EI402 acted impeccably and were thoroughly professional throughout yesterday’s security issue.”
The Irish Airline Pilots Association (Ialpa) noted that questioning the crew of Flight EI402 was typical practice for incidents of this nature within French territory. The union remarked in a press release that the pilots provided full cooperation and were being assisted in France by the SNPL, a partner organization. Daniel Langan, president of IALPA, stated: “The IALPA fully supports the pilots involved and is satisfied that their actions were consistent with their professional obligations and their overriding responsibility for aviation safety.”
British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described them as “malicious hoax threats,” while British aviation security commentator Julian Bray told ABC Radio National that authorities cannot take chances. “It might be a hoax, but as far as we’re concerned, this is absolutely for real,” he said.
Hybrid Warfare and Wider European Disruption
The flight scares arrive against a tense backdrop of broader infrastructure sabotage across the continent, ranging from German electricity substations and defence-related facilities in the Baltic region, to supermarket refrigerators in France and elsewhere. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Europe appeared to be facing “hybrid aggression and a form of psychological warfare”.
Analysts in the security sector suggested that these warnings might be an effort to retaliate against European countries for providing military or financial aid to Ukraine during the full-scale conflict initiated by Russia in 2022. Alternatively, it is possible that individuals are creating diversions, launching imitation threats, or acting out of personal vendettas.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee stated that the incidents, occurring just one week prior to a major gathering of over 50 European leaders in Dublin, were “extremely concerning”. French prime minister Sebastien Lecornu’s office said on Friday that “four new bomb threats were made today against aircraft flying over French territory”.
