Passengers on a Ryanair flight from Portugal faced terror as a bomb threat grounded their aircraft at Belgium’s Charleroi Airport, shutting down the entire facility for nearly three hours before authorities discovered it was a hoax perpetrated by someone arrested in England.
Key Takeaways
- A bomb threat on Ryanair flight FR6313 from Faro to Brussels Charleroi shut down Belgium’s second-busiest airport for nearly three hours on May 13, 2025.
- The security incident affected at least 11 flights that were diverted, creating widespread travel chaos across Belgium and France.
- The perpetrator of the false alarm was identified and arrested in England, while a person initially detained on the aircraft was released.
- Despite the disruption to airport operations, all 170 passengers aboard the Boeing 737 landed safely as authorities implemented emergency security protocols.
- The airport resumed operations at 1:45 pm after bomb disposal experts confirmed the threat was a hoax.
Emergency Response Paralyzes Major European Travel Hub
Brussels South Charleroi Airport, a major Ryanair hub in Europe, ground to a halt shortly before 11:00 am local time when authorities received word of a potential bomb aboard an incoming flight from Portugal. Airport officials immediately established a security perimeter around the Ryanair Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 170 passengers from Faro. The swift response included closure of the runway and complete suspension of all airport operations while bomb disposal teams assessed the situation.
“A security perimeter was established around the aircraft, necessitating the closure of the runway and therefore the interruption of operations,” said a Charleroi airport spokesperson.
#BREAKING 🇧🇪Operations at Belgium’s second-largest airport were suspended on Tuesday after a bomb threat on a Ryanair flight, the airport operator said.
The threat was reported just before 11:00 a.m. local time when the plane landed at Charleroi Airport. A security zone was set… pic.twitter.com/XvgSG9JAyV
— 凤凰欧洲 PhoenixCNE News (@PhoenixCNE_News) May 13, 2025
False Alarm Causes Real Damage to European Travel Network
The bomb scare triggered a cascading effect throughout European air travel, with at least 11 flights diverted to alternative airports and countless others delayed. The disruption extended far beyond Belgium’s borders, affecting schedules across France and other neighboring countries. This three-hour shutdown dealt a significant blow to Europe’s travel infrastructure during the busy spring tourism season, creating logistical nightmares for airlines attempting to reallocate crews, reschedule flights, and manage baggage logistics across multiple airports.
“Brussels South Charleroi Airport descended into crisis mode today after a chilling bomb threat aboard Ryanair flight FR6313 forced authorities to shut down the entire airport”, stated Ryanair.
The consequences of this disruption could extend to Belgium’s tourism economy. With social media flooded with traveler frustration and fears about security, tourism officials now face the uphill battle of restoring confidence ahead of the critical summer travel season. The hospitality sector is bracing for potential cancellations as travelers may reconsider their European vacation plans in light of security concerns.
Justice Swift as Hoax Perpetrator Apprehended
In a development that brings some closure to the incident, authorities quickly determined the threat was not credible. “The perpetrator of the false alarm has been identified and arrested in England. The person arrested on board the plane has been released,” confirmed the Charleroi prosecutor’s office. This swift action demonstrates the effective international cooperation in addressing aviation security threats, though questions remain about how such a hoax could cause such extensive disruption in the first place.
“Ryanair was informed of a security threat on flight FR6313 from Faro to Brussels Charleroi,” stated the company and, adding apologies to passengers affected by the incident.
While air traffic at Charleroi Airport resumed by 1:45 pm the same day, the ripple effects continued to impact travelers across Europe. This incident echoes past security concerns in Brussels and serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of transportation infrastructure to even false threats. Aviation analysts will undoubtedly review the response to determine if secondary airports like Charleroi are adequately prepared for such security incidents. Meanwhile, the economic impact on both airlines and travelers remains to be fully calculated as Europe’s low-cost travel economy absorbs yet another security-related disruption.
