Cyberattack disrupts major European airports and delays flights

A significant cyberattack occurred on September 19, 2025, affecting multiple major airports in Europe. The incident targeted the service provider responsible for check-in and boarding systems, leading to various operational issues across airports such as Brussels, Berlin's Brandenburg, and London’s Heathrow. Passengers at these airports experienced long wait times, manual check-in procedures, and overall inconveniences due to the malfunctioning electronic systems. Although Paris reported no outages, Brussels Airport initially noted a substantial impact on flight schedules with multiple cancellations and delays. As the situation unfolded, investigators focused on understanding the implications of the attack. Collins Aerospace, which operates vital systems used by airlines for passenger processing, confirmed a cyber-related disruption. The company stated that it was actively working to restore full functionality as the chaos led to frustrations among travelers, who faced extended wait times at check-in desks. Technicians had to resort to manual operations, creating significant delays and affecting travel plans. Some passengers expressed their discontent with the lack of information provided by the airport authorities, complicating their travel experiences. Experts highlighted that this event exposed vulnerabilities in aviation cybersecurity, raising alarms about the heavy reliance of the industry on shared digital systems. Charlotte Wilson, a cybersecurity expert, noted that attacks often target third-party service providers that manage systems for multiple airlines, exacerbating disruptions across borders. The potential motives behind the attack are still under investigation, with experts speculating that it may not have been financially motivated, but rather an act of vandalism. While the immediate fallout seemed contained as the day progressed, the cyberattack prompted a paradigm shift in how the aviation sector views its digital security. Aviation leaders and authorities are now likely to reconsider their cybersecurity approaches to better protect against future intrusions. The ongoing investigation will shed more light on the motivation and actors behind this incident, as it indicates a growing trend of attacks on critical infrastructure, emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of security protocols in the aviation industry.