Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said the recent increase in bomb threats targeting passenger aircraft across Europe could point to a coordinated action. The aim may not be to cause direct physical damage, but to disrupt European air travel, create uncertainty and erode trust, and test the response capabilities of national and allied security systems.
The minister said the threats go well beyond security incidents affecting individual flights. On some days, three alerts were issued one after another in Hungary alone.
When a civilian passenger aircraft receives a bomb threat, Hungarian Defence Forces Gripen fighters do more than escort it. They identify the aircraft, check its status, monitor its movements and, if necessary, initiate protective measures. This is particularly important if the plane deviates from its filed route, fails to follow air traffic control instructions or behaves in a way that could endanger Hungary’s population or critical infrastructure.
