Wizz Air calls for coordinated European response to bomb threats

Wizz Air has called for greater coordination between European authorities following a series of bomb threats targeting commercial flights, including 14 operated by the airline in a single week.

Two Wizz Air aircraft were diverted after threats were emailed to airlines and airports, prompting renewed concerns over the ability of national security authorities to respond to incidents affecting multiple countries.

József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air, said he had recently met representatives of the European Commission to discuss the incidents and press for a more coordinated approach.

“I personally had a meeting with the European Commission very recently, trying to address this issue and urging these people to act together and find ways of getting coordinated,” Váradi said during an earnings call on Thursday (12 November).

However, he acknowledged that national sovereignty remained a major obstacle to establishing a unified European response, with individual governments reluctant to cede responsibility for security matters.

The calls follow a series of hoax bomb threats across Europe in November, which have forced aircraft diversions, emergency landings, and security checks.

One Wizz Air flight travelling from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest on 2 November after a bomb threat was received during the journey. A Hungarian fighter aircraft was deployed to escort the passenger plane, which landed safely before undergoing security inspections.

Concerns over hybrid threats

Váradi suggested the incidents could form part of a wider pattern of hybrid warfare, involving disruptive activities intended to undermine security and normal operations.

European officials have also raised concerns that the threats could be linked to attempts to destabilise countries supporting Ukraine, although no responsibility has been established.

Reuters reported that the identity of those behind the emailed threats remains unknown, as does whether the incidents share a common source. Russia has denied involvement.

The disruption has extended beyond aviation, with bomb threats also affecting schools, media organisations, and railway services across Europe.

For airlines and travel risk management organisations, the incidents highlight the operational challenges posed by security threats that cross national borders, particularly where aircraft diversions and emergency response procedures involve multiple jurisdictions.