French prosecutors have opened an inquiry following the diversion of Aer Lingus flight EI402, which was traveling from Dublin to Rome on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The Airbus A320, carrying 157 passengers and crew members, was forced to land at the BA105 military air base in Évreux, Eure, due to a bomb threat. The incident prompted the deployment of the French Air and Space Force, which scrambled fighter jets to intercept and escort the civilian aircraft to the secure military landing site. [1] [2]
The proceedings were complicated by the pilot’s initial resistance to landing at the military installation. According to reports, the Irish pilot refused to land at the Évreux base, stating his preference for a civilian airport. This refusal necessitated the intervention of two military aircraft to ensure the airliner reached the designated landing zone safely. Once the aircraft landed, civil security bomb disposal units and Gendarmerie dogs conducted searches of the plane and its contents, while all passengers were thoroughly searched as a precautionary measure. [1] [2]
Rémi Coutin, the prosecutor of the Republic in Évreux, confirmed that an investigation has been launched. He visited the air base and announced that the pilot would be questioned in a free hearing (audition libre). The prosecutor stated he would later decide whether to place the pilot under formal custody (garde à vue) based on the circumstances of the incident. The pilot is expected to cooperate fully with the ongoing judicial inquiry regarding the validity of the bomb threat. [1] [2]
The Aer Lingus incident was part of a broader wave of false bomb threats affecting European air traffic on the same day. At least 12 flights experienced similar alerts, disrupting travel across the continent. Other notable diversions included a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome and a Wizz Air flight from Milan to Warsaw, which was diverted to Vienna. Authorities note that these incidents mark the third wave of such alerts this week, primarily targeting low-cost carriers and flights involving destinations or origins in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Italy. [1] [2]
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