BRUSSELS/BERLIN/LONDON — A large-scale cyberattack targeting check-in and boarding systems caused widespread delays and cancellations at airports across the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium on Saturday. Key hubs including London Heathrow, Brussels Airport, and Berlin-Brandenburg Airport were severely affected, forcing staff to process passengers manually and leading to chaotic scenes.

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The attack impacted Collins Aerospace, an external provider of airport management systems used by multiple airlines. Brussels Airport confirmed nine cancellations and at least 15 delays exceeding one hour, affecting an estimated 35,000 passengers. Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, warned of potential disruptions and deployed additional staff to assist travelers. Berlin’s airport reported “longer waiting times at check-in” due to the technical failure.

Cyberattack disrupts operations at European airports including Heathrow, Brussels | CNN #cyberattack #airports https://t.co/oSQ0qYHi9Y

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Spanish airports operated normally, though airlines like Iberia, Air Europa, and Vueling experienced isolated delays and cancellations on routes linked to affected cities. Dublin Airport also evacuated Terminal 2 due to a separate security alert, though no connection to the cyberattack was confirmed.

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Collins Aerospace, recently contracted by NATO for electronic warfare management systems, is working to resolve the issue. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which highlights vulnerabilities in critical aviation infrastructure. Passengers are advised to check flight statuses with airlines before heading to airports. The incident underscores growing concerns about cybersecurity threats to global transportation networks.

-Thailand News (TN)