Putin ‘Without Doubt’ behind cyberattacks on Heathrow and European Airports, Expert Claims as Fallout ‘to Last Days’
Brussels, Belgium – Disruptions at major European airports, including Heathrow, are the result of a cyberattack orchestrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin “without doubt,” according to a leading cybersecurity expert. The attacks,which began Tuesday,have caused important flight delays and cancellations,leaving thousands of passengers stranded and sparking fears of a prolonged period of travel chaos lasting “days.”
The coordinated cyberattacks targeted airport websites and operational systems, causing widespread disruption to flight facts displays and check-in procedures. Passengers at Brussels Airport faced lengthy queues and uncertainty as airlines struggled to manage the fallout. Derine, 19, arriving from Malta en route to university in Ireland, described her flight circling the runway for half an hour before being allowed to disembark. Another traveller heading to Mumbai reported a delay of an hour and a half to their flight.
“This is a clear escalation in Putin’s hybrid warfare tactics,” stated the cybersecurity expert, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of their work. “Targeting critical infrastructure like airports is designed to sow discord,undermine confidence in European systems,and exert political pressure.”
The attacks come amid heightened geopolitical tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While no group has formally claimed responsibility, the expert pointed to the sophistication of the attack and its strategic timing as evidence of state-sponsored involvement.
Passengers shared their frustrations as they grappled with the uncertainty. A family travelling to Canada, hoping to reunite with a son they hadn’t seen in over a year, expressed anxiety over potential delays. A mother and son en route to Zanzibar described “nightmare” conditions at security, with malfunctioning machines and overwhelmed staff. ”there were huge queues,and the machines weren’t working,so everyone was just swarming the staff with iPads. It was chaos,” they said.
Airlines and airport authorities are working to restore full functionality and mitigate the impact on travellers. However,officials warn that the recovery process could take several days as systems are thoroughly checked and security protocols are reinforced. The incident underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyberattacks and the growing need for international cooperation to address this evolving threat.