A wave of hoax bomb threats targeting commercial flights across Europe has triggered severe travel disruptions, leading to the scrambling of military fighter jets and the diversion of passenger aircraft. While official investigations remain ongoing without a confirmed perpetrator, security experts believe the pattern of threats points to sophisticated hybrid warfare tactics. Thursday alone saw approximately 20 flights affected, with low-cost airlines and routes operating to or from Bulgaria, Italy, and the Czech Republic being heavily targeted.
Despite the widespread disruption, no national security agency or European government has officially named the party responsible for the coordinated threat campaign. However, electronic messages sent to aviation authorities in several countries have provided critical clues regarding the potential origin. Threat messages delivered to airports in Sofia and Rome contained explicit misogynistic language and formally attributed the acts to individuals identifying as "fighters of the Male State."
An email sent to multiple contact addresses at Sofia Airport claimed that explosive devices had been planted on three Ryanair flights bound for Bulgaria. The sender issued severe warnings to officials, stating, "You are all accomplices in a criminal conspiracy and for this we want to annihilate you." The message further declared, "We, fighters of the Male State, with our actions today will leave a mark in history. Your feminist regime will remember it forever. The explosion will occur in 60 minutes. Today your skies will turn red."
Similar threats emerged elsewhere in Europe. ADR, the operational authority managing Rome’s airports, received an identical message targeted specifically at two flights bound for the Italian capital. In the United Kingdom, a spokesperson for Birmingham Airport in central England confirmed that the facility had received a similar hoax threat originating from a sender claiming to represent "Men's State," which threatened multiple flights operating out of the location.
The self-proclaimed group name has drawn attention to a far-right movement operating in Russia under the designation Male State. Lou Osborn, founder of Inpact, a non-governmental organization specializing in the monitoring of clandestine Russian activities, noted that the Male State organization utilizes Nazi symbolism and maintains a membership estimated in the thousands. However, security analysts note that as of Thursday evening, no definitive physical or digital evidence has emerged directly linking the recent airline hoaxes to Russia, Iran, or any of their known proxy groups.
Nevertheless, security analysts have frequently pointed toward Moscow when explaining a notable surge in hybrid sabotage operations across the continent following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Several European nations impacted by the recent flight threats, including Poland, Romania, and Denmark, have previously accused Russia of conducting hybrid warfare operations within their borders. Additionally, German authorities previously attributed a major security incident at Leipzig Airport during the summer to Russian involvement.
Aviation security specialists emphasize the extreme technical and intelligence challenges involved in establishing official legal attribution for such incidents. Eric Schouten, head of the aviation security firm Dyami, highlighted that proving a specific sovereign state is directing a non-state group or executing hoax campaigns is exceptionally complex. "When it comes to a situation like this or even other sabotage attacks, it's really hard to prove there's a certain country behind it," Schouten stated, adding, "But it does fit in the modus operandi."
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