The Federal Bureau of Investigation alerted the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) to bomb threats against two TAP Air Portugal flights bound for Paris and Copenhagen, which both landed safely after the warnings were deemed hoaxes. The alerts follow disruptions at Lisbon Airport involving a Ryanair flight bound for Rome and an incoming service from Italy. Airport manager ANA (Aeroportos de Portugal) and air traffic authority NAV Portugal have reinforced security protocols alongside police and military units as the European Commission coordinates information sharing across member states.
TAP Flights Targeted in European Bomb Hoax Wave
Friday, 6 November 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) is Portugal's national civilian police force, founded in 1867. Responsible for defending Republican democracy and safeguarding internal security and citizens' rights, the PSP polices major cities—Lisbon, Porto, Faro—and large urban areas, covering only 4% of Portugal's territory but roughly half the population. Led by a National Director under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, its approximately 21,500 officers handle preventive policing, crime investigation, public order, airport security, diplomatic protection, private security regulation, firearms licensing, and border control (since 2023).
PSP vs. GNR: The PSP is civilian with police-focused training and urban jurisdiction, while the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana) is military (gendarmerie) with military training, covering 96% of Portugal's rural and suburban territory. Both share core public safety missions but differ fundamentally in nature, training, and geographic responsibility.
ANA (ANA Aeroportos de Portugal) is the company that manages Portugal's main airports, including Lisbon Humberto Delgado, Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro, Faro, and airports in the Azores and Madeira. Since 2013, ANA has been owned by the French group Vinci Airports following privatization.
ANA is responsible for airport operations, terminal management, and infrastructure investment across its network. The company has been at the center of Portugal's long-running debate over a new Lisbon airport, with plans for a new facility to relieve capacity constraints at the current airport, which is located in the city center.
Passenger traffic at Portuguese airports has grown significantly, with Lisbon consistently ranking among Europe's fastest-growing airports. ANA's investment decisions and concession terms directly affect flight capacity, passenger experience, and connectivity for residents and tourists.
11 sources
- Bomb threats: NAV and ANA are working with the military and the PSP to ensure airport securityexpresso.pt ·
- New wave of bomb threats hit European airlinesBBC ·
- Psychological warfare, hybrid attacks, or copycats: Bomb threats are spreading fear across Europedn.pt ·
- Everything points to an organization behind the bomb threats on European planescnnportugal.iol.pt ·
- ANA monitors bomb threat on Ryanair flight departing from Lisboncmjornal.pt ·
- A week of bomb threats on aircraft in Europe: what do we know?publico.pt ·
- Bomb threats on flights. Analysts say the goal is to create insecurityrtp.pt ·
- FBI warned PSP of bomb threat on TAP flightsobservador.pt ·
- "There may not be just one actor behind these attacks" on European aviationcnnportugal.iol.pt ·
- FBI warned PSP of bomb threats on two TAP flightsdn.pt ·
- False bomb threats have already targeted TAP flightscmjornal.pt ·
