Cyberattack Cripples Major European Airports

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Brussels/Frankfurt/London — A major cyberattack targeting airport software systems caused widespread travel disruption across Europe on Saturday, grounding flights, delaying departures, and leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The impact is expected to stretch into Sunday, authorities confirmed.

The attack struck MUSE software, developed by Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of defense giant RTX, which manages electronic check-in and baggage handling for airlines worldwide. RTX acknowledged a “cyber-related disruption” but did not identify the source of the attack.

Europe’s busiest airport, London Heathrow, was among the hardest hit, along with Brussels Airport and Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Later in the day, Dublin and Cork airports in Ireland also reported disruptions, though on a smaller scale.

According to aviation data provider Cirium, at least 29 flights were canceled across the affected hubs by midday Saturday. In total, Heathrow had 651 departures scheduled, Brussels 228, and Berlin 226. Brussels Airport announced it would cancel half of its scheduled flights on Sunday to avoid chaotic queues and last-minute cancellations.

RTX confirmed the issue primarily disrupted electronic check-in and baggage drop services, forcing airports to revert to manual check-in procedures. Travelers at Heathrow and Berlin described long lines and confusion.

“I arrived at the airport early this morning, but we’ve had no clear information other than being told it’s a ‘technical fault,’” said Kim Reisen, a passenger at Berlin Airport. Another traveler, Siegfried Schwarz, called the attack “incomprehensible” and criticized the lack of robust defenses against such threats.

The European Commission said there was no evidence of a “widespread or severe attack,” but cybersecurity experts warned the incident highlighted vulnerabilities in aviation systems.

“These outages expose the fragile, interconnected nature of the digital infrastructure that keeps global air travel moving,” said Rafe Pilling, director of threat intelligence at cybersecurity firm Sophos.

Collins Aerospace was previously targeted by ransomware hackers in 2023, though the company has not confirmed whether Saturday’s attack was ransomware-related.

Airlines and Authorities Respond

• EasyJet reported normal operations, while Delta Air Lines and United Airlines implemented workarounds to minimize disruptions.
• Ryanair and British Airways did not immediately comment.
• British transport minister Heidi Alexander confirmed she was receiving regular updates.
• German and British cybersecurity agencies said they were assisting airports in the investigation.

Officials cautioned passengers to check flight statuses before heading to airports as disruptions and cancellations are likely to persist through Sunday.

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