15 most shocking airplane bomb incidents in recent times

In the wake of the bomb threat sent to Biman flight BG-356, en route from Rome to Dhaka, as well as another sent to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport directly the day after, here is a list of notable incidents regarding bomb threats on airplanes since 2000.

American Airlines Flight 63 (2001): On December 22, 2001, Richard Reid, known as the "Shoe Bomber," attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami. Passengers and crew subdued him, preventing the attack. 

2006 Transatlantic Aircraft Plot: In August 2006, British authorities foiled a plot to detonate liquid explosives on multiple flights from the UK to the US and Canada. This led to stringent restrictions on carrying liquids in hand luggage. 

Northwest Airlines Flight 253 (2009): On December 25, 2009, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate explosives sewn into his underwear on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. The device failed to detonate properly, and passengers restrained him. 

2010 Cargo Plane Bomb Plot: In October 2010, two packages containing bombs were found on cargo planes en route from Yemen to the US. The devices were intercepted in the UK and Dubai, preventing potential explosions. 

Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK709 (2011): On September 7, 2011, a flight from Lahore to Manchester was diverted to Istanbul after a bomb threat was received via email. All 347 passengers were safely evacuated, and no explosives were found. 

Air India Flight AI191 (2015): On June 27, 2015, a bomb threat was reported on a flight from Mumbai to Newark. The plane made an emergency landing at London Stansted Airport. After thorough checks, the threat was declared a hoax.

EgyptAir Flight MS804 (2016): On May 19, 2016, the flight from Paris to Cairo crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. Initial speculations included a possible bomb explosion, but investigations later pointed towards a fire in the cockpit as the likely cause.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 (2014): Disappeared on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Various theories emerged, including a possible onboard explosion, but the exact cause remains unknown.

Daallo Airlines Flight 159 (2016): On February 2, 2016, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device shortly after takeoff from Mogadishu. The blast created a hole in the fuselage, and the bomber was ejected from the aircraft. The plane made an emergency landing, and most passengers survived.

Air India Bomb Threats (2024): In October 2024, multiple Air India flights received bomb threats over three consecutive days. A Delhi-Chicago flight was diverted to Iqaluit, Canada, where passengers were later airlifted by a Canadian military plane. Most threats were declared hoaxes. 

Putin's Alleged Airline Terror Plot (2025): In January 2025, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of plotting terror attacks against international airlines as part of a global sabotage campaign. Western intelligence linked several recent air disasters in Europe to the Kremlin. 

Singapore Airlines Flight SQ423 (2016): On June 27, 2016, a flight from Singapore to Milan returned to Singapore Changi Airport due to an engine oil warning. After landing, the right engine caught fire. All passengers were safely evacuated, and there were no fatalities.

Delta Air Lines Flight DL55 (2018): On March 24, 2018, a flight from Lagos to Atlanta was diverted to Dakar, Senegal, after a bomb threat was received. The aircraft was searched, and no explosives were found.

Turkish Airlines Flight TK15 (2015): On November 22, 2015, a flight from Istanbul to New York made an emergency landing in Canada after a bomb threat note was found in the lavatory. The plane was searched, and the threat was deemed a hoax.

Qatar Airways Flight QR23 (2014): On August 5, 2014, a flight from Doha to Manchester was escorted by RAF fighter jets to Manchester Airport after a passenger made a bomb threat. The suspect was arrested, and no bomb was found.