Heathrow flights delayed and cancelled as cyber-attack hits European airports

The Guardian
The Guardian
3M ago
90 views
A cyber-attack on Collins Aerospace has caused significant delays and cancellations at Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin airports, raising security concerns.
Heathrow flights delayed and cancelled as cyber-attack hits European airports
A What happened
A cyber-attack targeting Collins Aerospace's Muse software has led to significant disruptions at Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin airports, resulting in numerous flight delays and cancellations. Passengers have been advised to verify their flight statuses before heading to the airport, with recommendations to arrive no earlier than three hours for long-haul flights and two hours for domestic ones. The attack has raised serious concerns regarding the security of critical infrastructure, as experts suggest that the centralized nature of the system may have allowed attackers to selectively target specific airports. Collins Aerospace is working to resolve the issue, which has forced many check-in processes to be handled manually, leading to long queues and frustration among travelers.

Key insights

  • 1

    Impact on Flight Operations: The cyber-attack has severely disrupted flight operations across major European airports.

  • 2

    Concerns Over Infrastructure Security: Experts are raising alarms about the security of critical infrastructure following the attack.

  • 3

    Manual Check-In Challenges: Passengers faced long wait times due to manual check-in processes implemented in response to the attack.

Takeaways

The incident highlights vulnerabilities in airport cybersecurity and the potential for widespread disruption.

Topics

Technology & Innovation Cybersecurity