Cyberattack Chaos: European Airports Paralyzed by Ransomware Strike
2025 | Cybersecurity & Aviation
Systems Down: The Source of the Chaos
The disruption began Friday evening when Collins Aerospace, a major US aerospace and defense supplier, detected what it initially called an "IT outage" affecting its MUSE (Multi-User System Environment) software. This critical platform is used by airlines and airports worldwide for passenger check-in and baggage handling.
Passengers faced massive queues as check-in systems failed across major European airports
Major Airports Brought to a Standstill
The cyberattack had a domino effect across Europe's busiest travel hubs, with each airport struggling to maintain operations through manual processes:
London Heathrow
Europe's busiest airport asked airlines to cancel half of all flights during a 10-hour window
Brussels Airport
At least 10 flights canceled and 17 significantly delayed by Saturday morning
Berlin Airport
Acknowledged "technical problem with a service provider" causing delays
Other Affected Hubs
Dublin and Cork airports in Ireland reported minor disruptions
Passenger Nightmare: Manual Processes and Endless Queues
With electronic systems down, airport staff were forced to implement manual check-in procedures—writing baggage tags by hand, processing documents manually, and dealing with increasingly frustrated travelers.
An Algerian passenger who preferred to remain anonymous expressed her anxiety: "There's no movement at all. They say they have to do everything manually," worried she would miss her flight home.
The Cybersecurity Threat to Aviation
This incident is part of a dangerous trend targeting the aviation industry. According to a recent threat report by Thales Group, ransomware attacks on the aviation sector increased by a staggering 600% between January 2024 and April 2025.
Recent Major Aviation Cyberattacks
- July 2024: Qantas Airlines breach exposing data of 6 million customers
- December 2024: Japan Airlines cyberattack compromising passenger information
- March 2025: Air traffic control system disruption in Scandinavia
- September 2025: Collins Aerospace MUSE software ransomware attack
Timeline of the Cyber Crisis
Cyberattack initially detected on Collins Aerospace systems
Major airports begin experiencing system outages affecting check-in
Brussels Airport confirms 10+ cancellations and 17+ delays
Heathrow requests airlines cancel half of all flights
Collins Aerospace works to resolve the issue while airports implement manual processes
Impact by the Numbers
The scale of disruption caused by this cyberattack highlights the vulnerability of interconnected aviation systems:
| Impact Metric | Number | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed Flight Cancellations | 29+ | Across affected airports |
| Delayed Flights | 50+ | Many delayed over an hour |
| Airports Affected | 10+ | Major hubs across Europe |
| Passengers Impacted | Tens of thousands | Directly affected by disruptions |
| Check-in Time Increase | 300%+ | Due to manual processes |
Industry Response and Recovery Efforts
Collins Aerospace released a statement confirming they were "working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible." Meanwhile, airports implemented contingency plans, deploying additional staff to handle manual check-in processes and asking passengers to arrive hours early for flights.
Airport staff were forced to implement manual check-in procedures
The Larger Cybersecurity Challenge
This incident highlights a troubling trend in critical infrastructure vulnerability. The aviation industry's increasing reliance on digital systems and interconnected software creates attractive targets for cybercriminals.
Critical Vulnerabilities Exposed
- Single points of failure in widely-used software platforms
- Interconnected systems allowing attacks to spread rapidly
- Insufficient backup systems for critical operations
- Inconsistent cybersecurity standards across the industry
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Aviation Cybersecurity
This weekend's airport chaos serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of our interconnected transportation systems. As the aviation industry increasingly relies on digital solutions, the potential impact of cyberattacks grows exponentially.
The incident underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures, redundant systems, and comprehensive contingency plans across the aviation sector. While technology has made air travel more efficient, this event demonstrates how a single point of failure can disrupt global mobility.
As Collins Aerospace works to resolve the issue and airports struggle to return to normal operations, passengers worldwide are left with a clear lesson: in our digitally-dependent world, cybersecurity is not just an IT issue—it's a critical component of transportation infrastructure that demands urgent attention and investment.