Warsaw-Modlin reopens after bomb alert diverts London flight

Warsaw-Modlin airport in Poland reopened on Tuesday, November 3, after temporarily closing following a bomb threat alert aboard a passenger aircraft travelling from London. The flight made an unscheduled landing at Modlin instead of arriving at Warsaw-Chopin, its intended destination. A separate aircraft from Copenhagen was also being checked at Chopin following a reported bomb threat.

In its update announcing the resumption of operations, Modlin said the aircraft involved in the reported threat was still undergoing checks by the relevant services. Passengers and crew were waiting in the arrivals hall for further decisions. The airport's reopening therefore came while checks on the aircraft remained in progress.

The London flight had been operating between Heathrow and Warsaw-Chopin when the alert was raised at 9:54 a.m., according to the timeline provided by Modlin airport. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX, landed at Modlin at 10:01 a.m., seven minutes after the alert was announced on board.

Modlin initially said it would remain closed until further notice as security services worked to verify the reported threat and ensure the safety of everyone at the airport. That closure notice preceded the later announcement that operations had resumed, with the aircraft still being examined by the relevant services.

There were 181 people aboard the plane, the airport said in its earlier statement, which reported that an evacuation was under way. A spokesperson for Polish airline LOT confirmed that the aircraft was operating a LOT flight. The subsequent airport update placed passengers and crew in the arrivals hall.

A second reported bomb threat concerned an SAS flight travelling from Copenhagen to Warsaw. That aircraft landed at Warsaw-Chopin, where it was being checked, according to a spokesperson for Chopin airport. The spokesperson said the airport continued operating while checks on the Copenhagen flight were taking place.

The reports thus involved aircraft arriving from two different cities and checks at both airports serving Warsaw. Modlin temporarily suspended operations following the London flight's unscheduled arrival, while Chopin remained open during the examination of the SAS aircraft.

Warsaw-Chopin lies within the Polish capital's city limits. Warsaw-Modlin, which is used mostly by budget airlines, is located about 36 kilometres from the capital.