What is happening in Europe again? – Fighter jets scrambled

If you have been following the bomb threats reported in European airspace in recent days, you may have noticed that they appear to be more than ordinary aviation incidents.

Following similar incidents involving at least seven passenger flights a few days ago, aircraft belonging to airlines from various countries were targeted again this morning. Some flights were forced to make emergency landings, while others changed their routes. The French and Italian air forces even scrambled fighter jets to escort passenger aircraft.

One notable aspect is that the incidents have affected the aviation systems of several countries. Initial inspections found no explosives aboard the aircraft. This has fuelled speculation that the aim behind the incidents may be to disrupt air traffic, force security forces into action and spread fear among the public.

Against the backdrop of the ongoing confrontation between Europe and Russia, the possibility of hybrid sabotage cannot be ruled out. Coordinated false alerts could create chaos at airports, cause financial losses for airlines and tie up military aviation resources. However, the involvement of cyber groups and other non-state actors cannot be excluded either.

The key question is who is behind these threats and what their purpose is. If just a few bomb alerts can trigger a response across the aviation systems of so many European countries, questions inevitably arise about how well the continent’s airspace is protected.

Jala Rovshan