What's happened
Multiple major European airports, including Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin, and Dublin, experienced delays and cancellations following a cyberattack on Collins Aerospace's check-in software. The incident, confirmed as ransomware, disrupted automated systems, forcing manual processing and causing ongoing delays across the continent.
What's behind the headline?
The attack exposes Europe's heavy reliance on a few key technology providers for airport operations, highlighting vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. The widespread delays and cancellations demonstrate how a single cyber incident can ripple across multiple countries, disrupting millions of travelers. The attribution remains uncertain, with some experts suggesting state or private actors could be behind it, given the sophisticated nature of the attack. The incident underscores the urgent need for improved cybersecurity measures in aviation and infrastructure sectors, as cyber threats continue to escalate. Recovery will likely be uneven, with some airports restoring full service faster than others, depending on their resilience and response capabilities.
What the papers say
The Guardian reports that the attack originated from Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, and affected airports in Brussels, Dublin, Berlin, and Heathrow, with ongoing delays and cancellations. TechCrunch notes the cyberattack is linked to ransomware targeting Collins' software, with the company working to restore full functionality. Bloomberg highlights the broader context of rising cyber threats in aviation, comparing this incident to previous attacks on companies like Jaguar Land Rover and Marks & Spencer, emphasizing the increasing frequency and severity of such cyber incidents. The articles collectively reveal a pattern of vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, driven by sophisticated cyber actors, and the significant operational risks posed by reliance on external technology providers.
How we got here
The disruptions stem from a cyberattack on Collins Aerospace, a provider of airline check-in technology, which occurred late Friday. The attack affected the MUSE software used globally for check-in, boarding, and baggage systems. This incident follows a pattern of increasing cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure, with ransomware attacks rising sharply this year, impacting airlines, airports, and other sectors.
Go deeper
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Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies subsidiary, is one of the world's largest suppliers of aerospace and defense products, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States.
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Heathrow Airport, originally called London Airport and now known as London Heathrow, is a major international airport in London, United Kingdom.
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Brussels Airport (IATA: BRU, ICAO: EBBR) is the main international airport of Belgium. It is located in the municipality of Zaventem in Flemish Brabant, 12 kilometres (7+1⁄2 miles) northeast of Brussels. Also informally known as Brussels-National Airpor
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Berlin Brandenburg Airport (German: Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg „Willy Brandt“) (IATA: BER, ICAO: EDDB) (German pronunciation: [beːʔeːˈʔɛɐ̯] ) is an international airport in Schönefeld, just south of the German capital and state of Berlin, i