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#Cybersecurity
TechCrunch
TechCrunch
1M ago 21 views

Hundreds of flights delayed at Heathrow and other airports after apparent cyberattack

A cyberattack on Collins Aerospace led to significant flight delays at Heathrow and other European airports, forcing manual check-ins.
Hundreds of flights delayed at Heathrow and other airports after apparent cyberattack
A What happened
A cyber-related incident involving Collins Aerospace disrupted airline check-in systems at major European airports, including Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin, leading to hundreds of flight delays. As of Sunday morning, more than 130 flights at Heathrow had been delayed by at least 20 minutes, with 13 cancellations reported on Saturday. The incident forced airlines to revert to manual check-in processes, causing significant inconvenience for travelers. Heathrow's social media account acknowledged the issue and apologized for the delays, urging passengers to arrive at least three hours before long-haul flights and two hours for short-haul flights. The situation highlights vulnerabilities in airport technology and the impact of cyberattacks on transportation.

Key insights

  • 1

    Impact of Cyberattacks

    Cyberattacks can severely disrupt critical infrastructure like airline systems.

  • 2

    Manual Check-Ins

    Airlines had to revert to manual check-ins, highlighting system vulnerabilities.

Takeaways

The incident underscores the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in critical transportation systems.