A cyberattack targeting Collins Aerospace's check-in and boarding systems caused significant disruptions at several major European airports, including London’s Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin’s Brandenburg, leading to flight delays and cancellations on Saturday.
The attack, which began Friday night, rendered electronic check-in and baggage drop systems inoperable, forcing airports to rely on manual processes.
Brussels Airport reported 10 cancellations and an average delay of one hour for departing flights.
At Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, passengers faced long queues, with some waiting over two hours for manual check-in.
Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport also noted extended wait times but was working to resolve the issue swiftly.
RTX, Collins Aerospace’s parent company, confirmed the "cyber-related disruption" affected its Muse software, which enables shared check-in desks and boarding gates for airlines.
Travelers reported significant inconvenience, with manual processes causing confusion and delays.
At Heathrow, additional staff were deployed to manage queues, and passengers were advised to check flight statuses before arriving.
Delta Air Lines implemented workarounds to minimize disruptions, while EasyJet reported normal operations.
British Airways, using a backup system, was unaffected, according to the BBC.
Brussels Airport warned of a "large impact" on schedules, with Eurocontrol directing airlines to halve flights to and from the airport until early Sunday.
No disruptions were reported at Frankfurt or Zurich airports, and Polish airports remained unaffected, per officials.
RTX stated it was addressing the issue urgently, emphasizing that manual check-in operations could mitigate the impact.
Heathrow deployed extra staff to assist passengers, and Berlin Airport worked on quick solutions.
The incident underscores the aviation industry’s vulnerability to digital disruptions, echoing last year’s global IT outage caused by a faulty software update.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was monitoring the situation closely, receiving regular updates to ensure a swift resolution.