Several major European airports, including those in Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, and London, were hit by a cyberattack that caused extensive disruptions to check-in and boarding systems over the weekend. The cyberattacks on airports, which began on Friday evening, led to hundreds of flight delays and cancellations, leaving thousands of passengers stranded or facing long waits.
Cyberattacks on Airports Targeted the Check-In Software
Airports in Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, and London Heathrow confirmed that the attack targeted software critical to airline operations. The affected system, known as Muse, is provided by Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of U.S.-based defense and aerospace conglomerate RTX. The company confirmed it was dealing with a “cyber-related incident,” which forced airlines to revert to manual check-in and boarding processes.
At Heathrow, over 90% of more than 350 flights were delayed on Sunday, with an average delay of 34 minutes, and six flights were canceled by mid-afternoon. Despite the disruption, the airport stated that “the vast majority of flights have continued to operate,” and there were no mandatory cancellations for Monday.
British Airways and other carriers began using backup systems over the weekend to partially restore operations.
Brussels Hit Hardest: 50 Flights Canceled on Sunday
The cyberattack on Brussels Airport at Zaventem led to some of the most severe delays and cancellations. By 3 p.m. Sunday, 86% of flights were delayed, and airport officials confirmed 50 cancellations out of 257 scheduled departures for the day. On Saturday, 25 flights had already been canceled.
By Sunday afternoon, Brussels Airport requested airlines to cancel almost half of Monday’s flights, approximately 140 out of 276 departures, to avoid overcrowding and operational chaos. A spokesperson stated that Collins Aerospace had not yet delivered a secure, updated version of the affected software, reported the BBC.
Berlin, Dublin, and London Heathrow are Still Recovering
The Berlin airport cyberattack disrupted around 73% of approximately 200 flights, prompting the airport to advise travelers to use online and self-service check-in options. A Berlin Airport spokesperson noted that some airlines were still boarding passengers manually and that there was no clear timeline for full resolution.
In Dublin, most flights were delayed as well, though the airport continued operating under manual check-in procedures.
London Heathrow Airport, despite seeing some recovery by Sunday, still experienced long queues and staff shortages due to the system outage. Half of the airlines, including British Airways, had restored partial operations using alternative systems, reported The Guardian.
Cybersecurity Officials and Governments Respond
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said it was collaborating with Collins Aerospace, British airports, the Department for Transport, and law enforcement agencies to assess the extent of the cyberattack in airports across the UK. The UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed she was receiving regular updates and monitoring the situation closely.
The European Commission is also reviewing these airport cyberattacks, although initial assessments suggest the breach was not widespread or coordinated at a pan-European level.
The cyberattack on Dublin and London airports, alongside the disruptions in Berlin and Brussels, highlight the increasing cyber risks faced by critical infrastructure in aviation. According to a report by Thales, a French aerospace and defense firm, cyberattacks targeting the aviation sector have surged by 600% in the past year.
As of Monday morning, Collins Aerospace stated that it was in the final stages of rolling out software updates but did not specify when full functionality would be restored.
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