A cyberattack that occurred from Friday night into Saturday morning disrupted operations at several European airports, including London’s Heathrow Airport in the UK, leading to delays and cancellations of flights due to the disabling of digital systems.
European airlines are expected to cancel additional flights on Monday (22) as the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) reports that hackers have deployed ransomware to hijack airport software systems. The malicious software targeted automated check-in systems across various European airports, according to a statement from ENISA to the BBC.
Ransomware Attack Disrupts Airport Operations
The ransomware attack, which has been identified by authorities, is currently under investigation by law enforcement. Whoever behind the attack scrambled systems, making it impossible for passengers to check in or dispatch luggage electronically. Collins Aerospace, the third-party provider of the affected software, is working closely with impacted airports, including Heathrow and Brussels Airport, and is in the final stages of updates to restore system functionality.
The BBC gained access to internal communications from Heathrow Airport staff, revealing that airlines are requesting manual processes for check-in and baggage handling to mitigate the disruption caused by the cyberattack.
Recap of the Weekend Cyberattack
The cyberattack compromised a software system provided by Collins Aerospace, which serves multiple airlines across various airports. This resulted in widespread issues for airlines relying on their systems for passenger boarding operations. Key details of the incident are as follows:
- The attack targeted and disrupted Collins Aerospace’s software, affecting airlines that depend on it for check-in and baggage handling processes.
- Airports in England, Ireland, Belgium, and Germany confirmed they were impacted by the software outage.
- RTX.Corp, the parent company of Collins Aerospace, acknowledged the issue but did not specify which airports were affected.
- Over 29 flights were canceled over the weekend, with further cancellations anticipated on Monday.
Continued Disruption on Monday
While approximately half of the airlines at Heathrow Airport managed to resume some operations by Sunday, utilizing backup systems like British Airways, other companies are still grappling with the aftermath of the attack. As a result, passengers can expect ongoing flight cancellations and delays as the situation is brought under control.
The attack highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber threats and the potential for widespread disruption when third-party systems are compromised. Airlines and airports are working tirelessly to return to normal operations while ensuring the safety and security of their passengers.
Source: Olhar Digital
