Cyberattack Cripples Check-Ins at Major European Airports
Cyberattack disrupts check-in systems, causing widespread flight chaos.
A cyberattack targeting check-in systems at major European airports, including Brussels, London Heathrow, and Berlin Brandenburg, continued to disrupt travel for a second day on Sunday, leaving passengers stranded with dozens of flight cancellations and delays. The attack, which began late Friday, affected software from Collins Aerospace, a U.S.-based company critical for check-in, boarding pass issuance, and luggage handling.
Brussels Airport bore the brunt, with 45 outbound and 30 inbound flights canceled on Sunday, up from 25 departures and 13 arrivals the previous day. “The cyberattack hit only desk check-in systems, not self-service kiosks,” said spokesperson Ihsane Chioua Lekhli. Airport teams resorted to manual processes, including handwritten boarding passes and backup laptops, to manage the chaos. Lekhli noted no clear timeline for resolution, stating, “We’re handling it day by day.”
Heathrow and Brandenburg airports reported improving conditions, with departure boards showing fewer disruptions by Sunday. However, all affected airports urged passengers to check flight statuses and use online or self-service check-in options to bypass delays. Brandenburg’s website warned of longer wait times, promoting fast bag-drop services as a workaround.
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The cyberattack’s source remains unknown, with experts suggesting possible culprits range from hackers to criminal groups or state actors. Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX Corp., confirmed the “cyber-related disruption” impacted select European airports but emphasized that manual check-in operations could mitigate effects. The company is working to restore systems, though no fix timeline was provided.
Heathrow issued an apology, stating, “We’re collaborating with airlines to ensure most flights operate despite the outage.” The incident underscores vulnerabilities in aviation technology, as unaffected European airports continued normal operations. Passengers were advised to stay updated and explore alternative check-in methods to minimize disruptions.
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