An Aer Lingus Airbus A320 operating a flight from Dublin to Rome was diverted to a French military airbase on Thursday, November 5, 2026, following a suspected bomb threat. The aircraft, operating as flight EI402, landed safely at Évreux Air Base in Normandy, France, after authorities initiated security measures in response to the alert.
The aircraft had departed Dublin Airport at approximately 6:24 am and was scheduled to arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport. However, while flying through French airspace near the Paris region, the flight changed its course and headed towards Évreux. The diversion followed a security warning reportedly communicated to French authorities by their Italian counterparts.
According to the French Prime Minister’s office, the situation was being closely monitored by the government. France’s Air and Space Force also responded to the incident, deploying aircraft to assist with the diversion. The Airbus A320 subsequently landed safely at the military installation, which is located in Normandy, west of Paris.
There were 151 passengers and six crew members on board the aircraft. Following the landing, everyone was moved to a secure location while specialist bomb disposal personnel began examining the aircraft. Security teams were tasked with checking the plane for any potential explosive device or suspicious material. At the time of reporting, authorities had not confirmed the presence of an explosive device.
Aer Lingus confirmed that flight EI402 had been diverted to Normandy as a security precaution. The airline stated that the aircraft landed safely and that arrangements would be made to help passengers continue their journeys to Rome as soon as possible. The incident caused disruption to the flight’s original schedule, although the safe landing ensured that passengers and crew could be evacuated without reported injuries.
The diversion comes amid a wider series of bomb threats affecting commercial aviation across Europe. On November 3, several passenger flights operated by airlines including Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT Polish Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines faced security alerts. These incidents resulted in emergency landings, aircraft inspections, passenger evacuations and temporary operational disruptions at multiple airports.
Earlier security incidents also involved flights travelling between the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain and Bulgaria. Aircraft were subjected to detailed inspections following the warnings, but authorities reported that no explosive devices had been discovered in the affected planes.
The latest alert involving the Aer Lingus flight has renewed concerns about aviation security and the potential disruption caused by repeated threats against commercial aircraft. Although the incidents have not been officially linked, their frequency has increased pressure on European aviation authorities, airlines and security agencies to maintain heightened vigilance.
Investigations and security checks are continuing to establish the origin and credibility of the latest warning. French and Italian authorities are monitoring the situation, while Aer Lingus works to accommodate the affected passengers and restore their travel arrangements.