Normandy airbase landing follows Aer Lingus pilot refusal in France
French prosecutors opened an inquiry after a Dublin to Rome flight diverted to a military base, prompting a fighter jet escort during a wave of hoax threats.
By Emily Brooks ·
The Evreux prosecutor's office in France opened an investigation into an Aer Lingus aircraft that landed at a military base in Normandy on Thursday. Authorities stated the pilot allegedly refused to land at the designated military airfield, choosing a civilian airport instead. This decision led to the deployment of two fighter jets to escort the plane.
The incident involved Aer Lingus flight EI402, which was traveling from Dublin to Rome. The aircraft was diverted in northern France after receiving a hoax bomb threat. No explosives were found during the subsequent search of the plane.
The broader disruption affected nearly 30 flights across Europe on Thursday. Airlines impacted included Ryanair, Wizz Air, Finnair, EasyJet, Aegean Airlines, Iberia, Sky Express, Air Serbia, and LOT. All flights landed safely, and security teams found nothing suspicious on board any of the aircraft.
Two Ryanair services were specifically delayed by the threats. One flight from London Stansted to Cork was held for 90 minutes after an anonymous phone call reached Cork Airport. Another Ryanair flight from Dublin to Prague was also affected. The threats disrupted routes connecting Italy, Ireland, Britain, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Finland, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, France, Greece, Serbia, and Czechia.
Katie McAteer, a passenger from Dublin on the Aer Lingus flight, described the experience as terrifying. She reported that the pilot informed passengers of a problem with the plane about an hour into the journey. McAteer saw a fighter pilot flying alongside the aircraft. The pilot later told passengers he believed the threat was not credible.
Aer Lingus issued a statement on Friday saying the captain and crew acted impeccably and were thorough professionals. The airline noted that its pilots fully cooperated with French authorities and that their engagement with the officials has concluded. When asked if the aircraft initially declined to divert as instructed, the carrier said it had no further comment.
Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee, called the events extremely concerning, especially with more than 50 European leaders scheduled to gather in Dublin for summits next week. She confirmed that gardaí and security forces are working with European counterparts. A senior government source suggested the hoaxes were likely coordinated by agents aligned with Russia or Iran, noting a pattern of Russia disrupting Europe. Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said investigations remain in the hands of aviation and policing bodies in the relevant jurisdictions.
The threats arrived via emails and other sources, according to McEntee. She noted it is not yet clear if all incidents are connected. The events follow similar disruptions earlier in the week. Ryanair has been contacted for comment regarding the Thursday disruptions.
