Russia is blamed by security experts for hoax 'bomb threats' that grounded six flights across Europe, including two from Britain
A locator map of European flight routes, showing the countries affected by Tuesday's bomb threats, including the Ryanair jet from Manchester that landed under guard in Murcia, Spain.
Security and intelligence expert Professor Anthony Glees called it "highly likely" that Vladimir Putin ordered the hoax campaign, describing it as part of a "kinetic shadow war" using disinformation to spread panic and test Western resilience. The threats came via anonymous emails and were received mid-flight on several aircraft.
Fighter jets were scrambled to escort planes in Italy and Hungary, with bomb disposal teams searching passengers, luggage and aircraft at multiple airports — finding nothing.
Jewish schoolchildren aged 16 and 17 from a London school were among 181 passengers diverted on the LOT flight from Heathrow to Warsaw-Modlin, evacuated without their belongings.
The wave follows a Wizz Air flight from London Luton forced into an emergency landing in Budapest on Monday, escorted by a Hungarian fighter jet — suggesting a deliberate pattern.
