A sophisticated cyberattack targeting critical airport systems swept through Europe on Friday evening, leaving travelers stranded and airline operations in disarray. Major hubs, including London’s Heathrow, Brussels Airport, and Berlin Brandenburg, reported significant disruptions to their check-in and boarding processes, forcing airlines to revert to manual procedures and prompting widespread delays and cancellations.
The attack, which struck a third-party service provider responsible for automated check-in and boarding systems, exposed the vulnerabilities of interconnected aviation infrastructure. Airports across the continent issued urgent advisories, urging passengers to verify flight statuses before heading to terminals. By Saturday morning, Brussels Airport reported nine cancellations and 15 flights delayed by over an hour, while Heathrow and Berlin struggled to manage long queues and frustrated travelers.
“This is a stark reminder of how reliant modern aviation is on digital systems,” said Dr. Elena Martinez, a cybersecurity expert at the University of Amsterdam. “When a single point of failure is compromised, the ripple effects can be staggering.” The attack, which officials have yet to attribute to a specific group, underscores the growing threat of cyberattacks in the aviation sector, where incidents have surged by 600% between 2024 and 2025, according to a recent report by aerospace firm Thales.
At Brussels Airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs, the impact was immediate. Automated check-in kiosks went offline, forcing staff to process passengers manually. “We’re doing everything we can to keep things moving,” said a spokesperson for Brussels Airport, noting that additional personnel were deployed to assist travelers. “But the reality is, manual processes slow everything down.” The airport’s website displayed a banner warning of extended wait times, echoing similar messages from Berlin and Heathrow.
Travelers took to social media to share their experiences, with many expressing frustration over a lack of clear communication. “I’ve been waiting three hours at Heathrow, and no one knows when we’ll board,” posted one user on X. Another traveler at Berlin Brandenburg described chaotic scenes at check-in counters, where staff struggled to manage handwritten boarding passes.
The incident comes at a challenging time for the aviation industry, which has faced a series of disruptions in recent months. From software glitches affecting American carriers to a July 2024 global IT outage caused by a faulty CrowdStrike update, airlines and airports are grappling with the fragility of their technological backbone. The European Aviation Safety Agency estimated that airports faced an average of 1,000 cyberattacks per month in 2020, a number that has only grown as digital systems become more integral to operations.
Airports affected by the attack emphasized that their own systems were not directly targeted, but rather a shared service provider, rumored to be Collins Aerospace, which supports multiple airlines globally. “This is a third-party issue, but it’s affecting everyone,” said a Heathrow spokesperson. The reliance on centralized providers has raised concerns among industry analysts, who warn that such systems create a single point of vulnerability. “When you have one provider serving multiple airports, it’s like putting all your eggs in one basket,” said Dr. Martinez.
Efforts to restore normal operations are underway, with service providers working around the clock to address the issue. Berlin Brandenburg’s website optimistically noted that a “quick solution” was in progress, though no timeline for full recovery was provided. Meanwhile, passengers were advised to arrive early—two hours for domestic flights and three for international—to account for delays.
The broader implications of the attack are already sparking discussions about the need for stronger cybersecurity measures in aviation. “Airports and airlines must invest in resilient systems and redundant processes,” said James Carter, a policy analyst at the International Air Transport Association. “This isn’t just about one attack—it’s about preparing for the next one.”
As travelers navigate the fallout, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the aviation industry’s digital dependencies. For now, passengers across Europe are left checking flight statuses, reshuffling plans, and hoping for smoother skies ahead.
