Over 70 flights in London, Berlin, and Brussels were cancelled over the weekend due to a cyberattack disrupting electronic check-in and boarding systems at major European airports. The incident, linked to a breach of Collins Aerospace, impacted Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels airports, with over 130 flights delayed at Heath, and 80 flights affected at Brussels. The disruption, which began on Friday night and continued through Sunday, was initially attributed to a cyberattack on Collins Aerospace, an American provider of airport services. The company confirmed the breach to AFP on Saturday, citing a disruption to its MUSE software in select airports.
Airport authorities warned passengers of extended waiting times and urged them to check flight statuses in advance. Despite the chaos, manual check-in and baggage drop services remained functional, though these alternatives are likely to be slower. The attack has not yet been attributed to any specific group, with no ransom demands or claims of responsibility reported. The incident follows a similar breach of Collins Aerospace in 2023, as reported by Reuters, citing multiple breach-hacking websites. The company has not responded to news agency inquiries about the previous hack.
The ongoing disruptions have raised concerns about the security of critical infrastructure and the vulnerability of systems managing air travel. Airport officials are now under pressure to assess the impact on their operations and implement measures to prevent future breaches. With the attack affecting one of the largest U.S. companies in the aviation sector, the financial implications for Collins Aerospace and the broader aviation industry are being closely watched. The absence of a clear perpetrator has also sparked questions about the potential involvement of state-sponsored actors or unknown cybercriminal groups.