Cyber Attack at Heathrow and Other European Airports
A cyber attack has disrupted operations at several European airports, including London Heathrow (LHR), due to issues with systems supplied by Collins Aerospace. The owner of Collins Aerospace, RTX, acknowledged the cyber breach and is actively working to resolve the situation.
Impact on Airport Operations
The attack targeted the Muse system, which facilitates check-in and baggage drop processes. Consequently, many of these tasks are being handled manually, resulting in significant delays. The affected airports include major hubs such as London Heathrow, Berlin Brandenburg, and Brussels.
Response and Measures
The National Cyber Security Centre is collaborating with Collins Aerospace, affected airports, the Department for Transport, and law enforcement to assess the full impact of the incident. British Airways, primarily based at Heathrow, is utilizing a backup system to ensure continued operations without major disruptions.
Current Flight Status
According to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, as of 12:30 BST, there have been 16 cancellations of departures and 13 arrivals at the affected airports. Passengers are experiencing significant delays across numerous flights. These airports, including Heathrow, advise passengers to stay informed about their flight status prior to arriving and recommend arriving three hours before long-haul flights and two hours before European and domestic departures.
Recent Cyber Attacks
This incident is part of a broader trend of cyber attacks affecting major companies, with Jaguar Land Rover and Marks and Spencer experiencing financial repercussions from similar attacks.
