Major European airports including Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin faced significant disruptions on Saturday due to a cyberattack targeting the check-in and boarding systems utilized by airlines. The incident led to lengthy delays and operational chaos across the affected airports.
Brussels Airport confirmed that the cyberattack disrupted automated systems, forcing the implementation of manual check-in and boarding procedures. The precise source of the attack remains unidentified; however, cybersecurity experts have suggested that it could involve hackers, criminal organizations, or even state actors, according to reports from AP.
London’s Heathrow, recognized as Europe’s busiest airport, issued warnings about potential delays in departures linked to issues from Collins Aerospace, a key service provider affected by the cyberattack. Officials stated that disruptions were not directly aimed at the airports or airlines themselves but specifically targeted the systems that facilitate passenger check-in, boarding pass printing, and baggage dispatch.
Collins Aerospace acknowledged a “cyber-related disruption” to its Multi-User System Environment (MUSE) software, which is essential for several airport operations. As a result, flight delays and some cancellations ensued, with aviation data provider Cirium reporting that 29 departures and arrivals had already been canceled at Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels. On that day, Heathrow had 651 scheduled departures, Brussels had 228, and Berlin had 226.
Passengers planning to travel on Saturday were urged by the affected airports to verify flight statuses with their airlines ahead of heading to the airport. Berlin Airport’s website indicated longer waiting times at check-in, as they worked diligently to resolve the issues.
Despite the chaos in European air travel, Indian airports reported no impacts from the incident. The Delhi Airport issued a statement advising passengers that while European airports were experiencing issues, flights to and from Delhi might also see some disruptions, urging travelers to stay in contact with their airlines for current updates.
Brussels Airport further recommended that airlines cancel half of the scheduled departing flights on Sunday, September 21, to mitigate the possibility of significant queues and last-minute cancellations.
A spokesperson from the European Commission noted that there were no signs of a “widespread or severe attack” and emphasized that investigations into the incident were ongoing to determine its origins.
Air India communicated that a disruption in third-party passenger systems at Heathrow could lead to delays in the check-in process. The airline reassured passengers that their ground teams in London were actively working to minimize any inconvenience and advised customers traveling from London to complete their web check-in in advance to ensure smoother airport experiences.
