Cyber-Attack Disrupts Heathrow and Major European Airports, Causing Flight Delays and Chaos
Heathrow Airport, along with several other major European airports, has been hit by a cyber-attack that disrupted check-in and baggage systems, leaving thousands of passengers facing long queues, delays, and uncertainty.
Flights Delayed Across Europe After Cyber Breach
On Saturday, flights at Heathrow were delayed after a “technical issue” linked to airline software emerged. Brussels Airport confirmed it was forced to check in passengers manually following a Friday night cyber-attack, while Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport also reported longer wait times at check-in.
RTX, the parent company of Collins Aerospace — the software provider behind the issue — admitted it was “aware of a cyber-related disruption” affecting select airports. The company added that the impact was limited to electronic check-in and baggage systems and could be managed manually.
The affected system, known as Muse software, allows multiple airlines to share check-in desks and boarding gates.
Passenger Frustration at Heathrow
While British Airways managed to operate using a backup system, most other airlines at Heathrow faced serious delays.
Some passengers described chaos at terminals. Lucy Spencer, waiting to fly with Malaysia Airlines, said she had queued for more than two hours as staff manually tagged luggage. “They told us to use boarding passes on our phones, but at the gates, they weren’t working. We’ve now been sent back to the check-in counter,” she told the BBC.
Another passenger, Monazza Aslam, reported sitting on a plane for over an hour with no information: “I’ve already missed my onward connection in Doha. We’ve been at Heathrow since 5 a.m., and my elderly parents are hungry and tired.”
Others, like Luke Agger-Joynes, praised staff for keeping queues moving, saying airlines were prioritizing passengers in danger of missing flights.
Impact Beyond the UK
The cyber-attack also hit Dublin and Cork airports, though officials there described only “minor impacts.”
Brussels Airport warned of a “large impact on the flight schedule”, with cancellations and major delays. Eurocontrol, Europe’s aviation safety regulator, instructed airlines to cancel half their flights to and from Brussels between Saturday morning and early Monday to reduce strain.
Government and Industry Response
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre confirmed it was working with Collins Aerospace, airports, the Department for Transport, and law enforcement to assess the incident. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was receiving regular updates and closely monitoring the situation.
Heathrow Airport deployed extra staff to assist passengers and urged travelers to check flight statuses with airlines before heading to the airport.
Cybersecurity Concerns Grow
This disruption follows a global IT meltdown in July caused by a faulty software update from CrowdStrike, which grounded flights across the US. Experts warn the aviation sector is increasingly vulnerable to digital failures and cyber-attacks.
While some speculation points to Russian state-backed hackers, experts caution it is too early to identify who is behind the latest attack. Many past large-scale hacks have been carried out by criminal ransomware gangs seeking money rather than political disruption.
Collins Aerospace has not yet provided details about the origin or motive behind the breach.
Cybersecurity analysts note that many hacking groups operate from Russia or former Soviet states, though arrests worldwide — including of British and American teenagers — show the threat is global.
A Warning for Global Aviation
With Europe’s busiest airport, Heathrow, among those affected, experts warn that even limited cyber disruptions can trigger widespread travel chaos. As travel journalist Simon Calder explained:
“Air travel is highly interconnected. A small glitch in Brussels or Berlin can cause passengers, planes, and crews to be in the wrong place — and the situation can spiral quickly before it gets better.”