Heathrow Cyber Attack Sparks Major Delays as European Airports Face Disruptions

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A major cyber attack today disrupted operations at Heathrow Airport, causing delays and cancellations that rippled across Berlin and Brussels. The breach targeted Collins Aerospace’s Muse software, a system widely used for check-in and boarding at European airports, raising serious concerns about aviation cybersecurity.

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Heathrow at the Centre of Chaos

London’s busiest airport, Heathrow, experienced significant queues as airlines were forced to resort to manual check-ins and handwritten baggage tags. Passengers reported waiting for hours at terminals, with many flights either delayed or cancelled. Officials urged travellers to check flight statuses before leaving home and not to arrive earlier than three hours before long-haul flights or two hours before domestic departures.

The disruption has sparked frustration among travellers. Passengers flying Etihad, British Airways, and Lufthansa reported long delays, with some waiting over four hours before learning that the cause was a Heathrow cyber attack.

Berlin and Brussels Hit Too

The problem wasn’t limited to Heathrow. Berlin Airport and Brussels Airport confirmed they too had been affected. In Brussels, officials said check-in and boarding could only be handled manually, causing major disruption to flight schedules. Berlin reported “longer waiting times at check-in” but said efforts were under way to restore systems quickly.

Both airports stressed that the issue lay with Collins Aerospace, the company behind the compromised software. The widespread reliance on the Muse platform highlighted how a single cyber attack on airports can ripple across countries and impact thousands of passengers simultaneously.

Collins Aerospace Responds

Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, acknowledged the cyber attack and confirmed that its Muse software had suffered a “cyber-related disruption.” The company said it was “actively working to restore full functionality” and that the impact was limited to electronic check-in and baggage drop systems.

Collins added that manual operations could mitigate some of the disruption, but the scale of the attack left passengers stranded in long queues. Experts warn that centralised systems like Muse, if targeted, could expose a critical vulnerability in global aviation.

Cybersecurity Concerns Raised

Experts called the incident a wake-up call. Professor Alan Woodward, a cybersecurity specialist, questioned why airports were so heavily reliant on a single provider and why control of the system appeared centralised. He noted that if attackers could affect three airports, they might have the ability to expand the attack further.

The UK transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, confirmed she was receiving regular updates and monitoring the situation closely. She urged passengers to stay in touch with their airlines and avoid unnecessary time at airports until the situation improved.

Passengers Share Frustrations

Stories from passengers highlighted the scale of the Heathrow delays. One traveller described queuing for over three hours only to find out that staff were manually writing luggage tags. With only a handful of desks open, the backlog worsened quickly.

Others expressed confusion, saying they had no idea a cyber attack at Heathrow was unfolding until hours after their flights were delayed. For many, it was a stark reminder of how digital systems, though efficient, can also become single points of failure when targeted.

Wider Implications of Airport Cyber Attacks

This latest incident underscores the rising threat of cyber attacks on European airports. In an industry that depends heavily on secure digital systems, breaches like this expose vulnerabilities in global supply chains and critical infrastructure.

With cyber attacks today increasingly targeting transport, healthcare, and energy sectors, aviation authorities are under pressure to strengthen resilience. Analysts warn that unless systems are decentralised or backed up with robust fallbacks, incidents like the Heathrow cyber attack could become more frequent.

Quick Takeaway

Heathrow cyber attack disrupted check-in and boarding, forcing manual operations.
Berlin and Brussels airports were also affected by the Collins Aerospace software breach.
Thousands of passengers faced long delays and cancellations.
Experts warn of vulnerabilities in centralised airport systems.
The incident highlights rising risks of airport cyber attacks in Europe.

Conclusion

The Heathrow Airport cyber attack is a stark reminder that even the most advanced travel hubs remain vulnerable in an age of escalating digital threats. By crippling check-in and boarding systems at multiple European airports, the attack caused chaos for passengers and exposed systemic weaknesses in aviation’s reliance on centralised software.

As Collins Aerospace works to restore its Muse platform, governments and airlines must reassess how prepared they are for future breaches. For now, the message to travellers is clear: check flight statuses, expect Heathrow delays, and recognise that the battle against cyber threats has firmly reached the runway.