Hackers struck check-in and boarding systems, forcing Brussels, Heathrow, and Brandenburg airports to rely on manual processing.
Brussels Airport Faces Severe Fallout
Brussels Airport confirmed the attack on its system provider, saying staff could only process passengers manually.
Officials cancelled nine flights, diverted four to Ostend, and delayed fifteen by over an hour.
The airport later announced it would cancel half of Sunday’s departures to reduce long queues and late changes.
Authorities expected 35,000 travelers on Saturday and urged passengers to arrive only with confirmed flights.
Disruptions Spread Across Europe
Collins Aerospace, the system provider, admitted to a “cyber-related disruption” affecting global self-service check-in and bag tag software.
Brandenburg Airport reported no cancellations but warned passengers about delays and long wait times.
Officials cut connections to compromised systems while staff handled boarding manually.
Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest, confirmed minimal disruption and reported no flight cancellations.
Security Breach Exposes System Vulnerabilities
The attack targeted the software provider, not individual airlines or airports, highlighting the fragility of centralized systems.
Airlines and airports scrambled to restore order, but passengers endured long waits and disrupted travel plans.
Officials pledged to investigate and strengthen safeguards to prevent similar disruptions across European aviation.
