A ransomware attack targeting critical airport systems caused significant disruptions at several major European airports over the weekend. The incident affected key hubs including London's Heathrow, Brussels Airport, and Berlin's Brandenburg, with minor issues reported in Ireland. The attack was directed at Collins Aerospace, an external provider of the shared check-in and boarding platform known as MUSE.
This system is used by multiple airlines to manage passenger processing, and its compromise led to widespread operational problems. The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) confirmed the incident was a ransomware attack, which resulted in over 100 flights being delayed or cancelled. Passengers had to be processed manually as airport staff worked to mitigate the impact.
Collins Aerospace is leading efforts to restore the affected systems, while law enforcement and national cyber security agencies in the UK are investigating the breach. Authorities are advising all organizations to strengthen their cybersecurity posture using available guidance to prevent similar attacks.
