Russia is suspected of a wave of hoax bomb threats that forced UK flights into emergency landings across Europe

At least seven passenger jets across Europe were forced into emergency landings on Tuesday after receiving bomb threats, with three of the targeted flights departing from UK airports — Heathrow, Manchester and London Luton. Security and intelligence expert Professor Anthony Glees called it "highly likely" that Vladimir Putin was responsible, warning of a "kinetic shadow war" testing Western resilience. The UK government confirmed two of the British-linked threats were a "malicious hoax" after inspections by Polish and Spanish authorities found no explosives on board.

The campaign fits a wider Kremlin hybrid-war pattern: European fridges and freezers were hit by a cyber-attack in the same week, targeting seven countries.

Aviation security chief Eric Schouten of Dyami said the threats "fit the narrative of Russian state actors who want to disturb Europe," from railways to food infrastructure.

Ryanair was the worst-affected airline, with at least ten similar incidents reported across Europe — one Dublin flight was escorted to Rome's Fiumicino Airport by the Italian Air Force.