Major Disruption at European Airports Following Cyber-Attack

Wed Oct 22 2025 01:52:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A cyber-attack has caused widespread delays at Heathrow and other European airports, with airlines resorting to manual check-ins as systems fail.

Air travelers are facing significant disruptions at Heathrow and Brussels airports due to a cyber-attack affecting crucial check-in and baggage systems. Hundreds of flights have been delayed, with several airlines operating under emergency procedures. Airport authorities are urging passengers to stay informed about flight statuses as they work to resolve the issues amid ongoing complications.

Air travelers are currently experiencing significant disruption at several European airports, including Heathrow and Brussels, due to a cyber-attack that has knocked out critical check-in and baggage systems. Following the attack, airlines have resorted to manual check-in processes, leading to lengthy delays and frustrations for passengers.

On Saturday, numerous flights were delayed, as software utilized by several airlines malfunctioned. In a bid to address the issues, affected airports resorted to using pen and paper for boarding passengers. Brussels Airport has indicated that it had no indication yet of when the affected systems would return to normal functionality, prompting airlines to cancel half of their departing flights.

RTX, the parent company of Collins Aerospace, the software provider, acknowledged encountering a cyber-related disruption and is working to address the issue swiftly. They identified their Muse software—a system that enables multiple airlines to share check-in desks and gates—as the component impacted.

Despite the disturbances, Heathrow Airport reassured the public that the majority of flights continue to operate. They have advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport, highlighting an ongoing effort to resolve the situation.

The chaos has led to hours-long queues at several airports, with passengers sharing their experiences of delays and cancellations. British Airways reportedly managed to operate normally using a backup system, while most other airlines faced service interruptions.

Brussels Airport announced it would continue with manual check-ins and was taking measures to minimize disruption by adding extra staff. Travelers at Dublin Airport remained hopeful for a full schedule despite the ongoing technical issues.

The National Cyber Security Centre is collaborating with relevant stakeholders to assess the incident's impact, while the European Commission monitors the situation closely. This incident follows a prior global IT disruption caused by a software error last year, emphasizing the vulnerabilities within the aviation industry regarding digital systems.