'Bomb on board': How three minute warning changed Dublin to Rome Aer Lingus flight's route

An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome carrying more than 150 passengers was diverted to France on Friday after air traffic control alerted its crew to a bomb threat reportedly targeting the aircraft. The warning was relayed to the pilots while the plane was flying over Paris, prompting an immediate change of course and an emergency diversion.The aircraft had taken off from Dublin on Friday morning.

Just before 9am local time, while flying over Paris, it began descending and turned west towards Charles de Gaulle Airport. The crew first informed authorities in Dublin that the aircraft was diverting to the Paris airport.Three minutes later, the crew sent another message explaining the reason for the diversion.

It said: "The plane is diverting due to a bomb on board threat, relayed to them by air traffic control on the ground."However, the aircraft was subsequently redirected to Évreux-Fauville military airbase following a government order.