Flights have faced delays and cancellations at three major European airports, including London Heathrow, following a cyber-attack on the software responsible for check-in and boarding. The issue is associated with Collins Aerospace, which provides services to various airlines globally. Airports in Brussels and Berlin are also reporting disruptions related to this situation.
Heathrow’s transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, stated she is receiving regular updates concerning the incident and advised travelers to check their flight status before coming to the airport. Passengers were encouraged not to arrive earlier than three hours before long-haul flights or two hours before domestic flights. Brussels airport confirmed the attack occurred on Friday night, leading to a manual handling of check-in and boarding processes. The airport emphasized that the situation was under Collins’ management and warned that it would result in significant delays and cancellations.
Berlin airport also acknowledged longer waiting times at check-in due to a technical issue with a system provider operating across Europe. Collins Aerospace reported being aware of a cyber-related disruption to its Muse software at specific airports and is working to rectify the issue. The company stated that the impact is confined to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop, and manual operations could help mitigate the situation.
Cybersecurity expert Professor Alan Woodword raised concerns about the reliance of airports on Collins for resolving the issue, speculating about the centralized control of the system. He questioned why only three airports were affected while others using the same Muse system remained operational. This incident has prompted inquiries into the overall security and robustness of infrastructure systems at airports.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/20/heathrow-airport-delays-cyber-attack-berlin-brussels-cancelled-delays