Airport breach via traditional means: cyber attack impacts check-ins
In a surprising turn of events, a cyberattack has affected an airport service provider, causing issues with passenger processing at several airports across Europe. The system provider, Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, provides check-in and boarding systems used at these airports.
The affected airports include Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, and London Heathrow. The outage, currently ongoing, has resulted in various challenges at these airports.
At Berlin Airport BER, passengers are being processed using paper lists and pencil due to the malfunction. Online check-in is still functional, but manual check-in is necessary for individuals with wheelchairs, strollers, or oversized luggage. The attack has caused longer wait times, leading to 62 flight delays as of now.
Brussels Airport, on the other hand, has reported significant impacts on flight operations. 14 flights have been canceled, and departing flights are experiencing an average delay of one hour. In Brussels, there were over 100 flight delays reported. Brussels Airport has asked Eurocontrol to cancel half of all planned departures until Monday morning.
Dublin Airport reported only minor impacts, with one of the two terminals evacuated for security reasons on Saturday. However, the Europe-wide software problem only had minor impacts in Dublin.
London Heathrow Airport has reported over 140 flight delays until midday. Cork Airport is also affected, but no flights have been canceled yet. Flight delays could continue to build up throughout the day, potentially leading to cancellations in the evening.
Frankfurt Airport is not affected by the cyberattack, but they are closely monitoring their systems and the situation. So far, other European airports have not reported any problems.
Passengers are advised to check their flight status with their airline before arriving at the airport and plan enough time there. The duration of the restrictions at the airports is unclear.
It's important to note that the airport itself is not the target of the cyberattack, but is only indirectly affected. The system provider used at airports throughout Europe is the target.
This incident serves as a reminder of the increasing reliance on technology in our daily lives and the potential vulnerabilities that come with it. As the situation develops, updates will be provided regarding the restoration of normal operations at the affected airports.
