A cyberattack on the night of September 19 disrupted check-in and boarding systems at several major European airports, affecting operations at Brussels, Berlin’s Brandenburg, and London’s Heathrow. The immediate impact resulted in a reliance on manual check-in procedures, although many other airports reported no disruptions.
Brussels Airport stated that the incident stemmed from a breach involving its service provider’s systems, specifically Collins Aerospace, whose software facilitates various passenger services. By midday, Brussels had seen cancellations and delays, while Berlin reported no affected flights at that time. Heathrow, however, experienced minimal disruption.
Experts have expressed concerns over the implications of this cyberattack, highlighting potential vulnerabilities within the aviation sector’s security frameworks. Travel analyst Paul Charles noted the sophistication of the attack, indicating it targeted a fundamental system impacting multiple airlines and airports simultaneously.
As authorities continued to assess the situation, frustration grew among passengers due to staffing shortages at check-in counters. Many complained about lengthy waits and manual processing of baggage tags. Collins Aerospace assured that they were working to restore normal operations.
The incident underscores the aviation industry’s increasing vulnerability to cyber threats, particularly those exploiting third-party digital systems. Experts like Charlotte Wilson of Check Point noted that such attacks typically infiltrate through supply chains, wherein the compromise of one vendor can trigger widespread disruptions across various airports and airlines.
While attributions for the cyberattack remain unclear, speculation ranges from hackers to state actors, with some experts suggesting it may have been an act of vandalism rather than financial extortion at this stage.