A cyberattack targeting Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin Brandenburg airports crippled passenger check-in and baggage systems. Hundreds of flights were delayed, and passengers were left waiting in queues for hours.
A cyberattack on some of Europe’s busiest airports disabled electronic passenger check-in and baggage systems, triggering widespread chaos. Thousands of passengers queued for hours while hundreds of flights were delayed.
Crisis at Airports
London’s Heathrow Airport announced that delays were inevitable due to a malfunction in the software provided by Collins Aerospace. At Brussels Airport, following Friday night’s cyberattack, check-in and boarding had to be carried out manually. Long queues also formed at Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
Collins Aerospace confirmed the malfunction in the MUSE software, which is part of RTX. The company explained that the issue stemmed from the system enabling airlines to share check-in and boarding gates. It added that disruptions in electronic check-in and baggage drop were being offset with manual procedures.
Passengers Waited for Hours
Speaking to the BBC, passengers at Heathrow described severe disruption. Lucy Spencer, a Malaysia Airlines passenger, said: “Our boarding passes on our phones didn’t work, we had to tag our luggage manually. We’ve been in line for two hours.” Another passenger, Monazza Aslam, added: “We’ve been here with my elderly parents since 5 a.m. We are exhausted and hungry.”
Flight Delays and Cancellations
According to FlightAware data, by midday Saturday more than 140 flights were delayed at Heathrow, over 100 in Brussels, and 62 in Berlin. Brussels Airport authorities warned that cancellations could increase and urged passengers to stay alert. Eurocontrol requested that half of all flights to and from Brussels be cancelled.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said they were closely monitoring the situation. Heathrow’s management stated that additional staff had been deployed and advised passengers to confirm flight information directly with their airlines.
Global Aviation Chain at Risk
Transport experts warn that the disruption centred on Heathrow poses risks not only for Europe but also for globally connected flights. Travel writer Simon Calder cautioned: “Even a minor problem in Brussels or Berlin can cause passengers to miss connections, leaving aircraft and crew out of place. The situation can deteriorate rapidly.”
A similar software crisis in the US last year, caused by a faulty Crowdstrike update, grounded hundreds of flights and exposed the fragility of the global aviation system.
