Cyber attack hits European airports: Flight operations affected at THESE major locations – What we know
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Representative image. Photograph: (AFP)
Passengers were advised to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.
European airports faced several flight delays or cancellations on Friday (Sep 19), after a cyber attack targeted a service provider for check-in and boarding systems. Major airports, including London Heathrow and Berlin airport, reported disruption in their operations, while passengers were advised to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.
“We have become aware of a cyber-related disruption to our MUSE software in select airports,” airport service provider Collins Aerospace said in a statement on Saturday. “The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations.” The service provider said that it was actively working to resolve the issue and “restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible.”
Which airports were affected?
Major airports in Europe, including London’s Heathrow, Brussels Airport, and Berlin Airport, were among those that faced flight disruptions. At least 10 flights were delayed, and 17 others were delayed at the Brussels Airport.
According to a BBC report, aviation watchdog Eurocontrol advised airlines to cancel half their flights to and from the airport on Saturday because of the incident.
Airports issue advisory
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London’s Heathrow, the busiest airport in Europe, urged passengers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.
In a statement, the airport authorities said, “Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers.”
The statement further added, “While the provider works to resolve the problem quickly, we advise passengers to check their flight status with their airline before travelling. Please arrive no earlier than three hours before a long-haul flight or two hours before a domestic flight.”
“Additional colleagues are available in check-in areas to assist and help minimise disruption. We apologise for any inconvenience,” it said.
In a statement, Brussels airport said, “There was a cyberattack on Friday night 19 September against the service provider for the check-in and boarding systems affecting several European airports including Brussels Airport. This means that at the moment only manual check-in and boarding is possible. The service provider is actively working on the issue and trying to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.”
It added, “This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations of flights.” The airport authorities further urged passengers with a flight on Saturday to check their flight status before coming to the airport, and only come to the airport if their flight was confirmed. It also advised passengers to follow the information channels of the airport for updates.
The Berlin Airport, said in a statement on their website, “Due to a technical issue at a system provider operating across Europe, there are longer waiting times at check-in. We are working on a quick solution.”
