Heathrow Airport suffered widespread disruption on Saturday after a cyber-attack hit an electronic check-in and baggage system used by several airlines. Passengers faced long queues and multi-hour delays as staff switched to manual check-in procedures.
The issue also affected Brussels, Berlin and Dublin airports. Brussels Airport confirmed a Friday night cyber-attack forced staff to board passengers manually. Berlin Brandenburg Airport reported longer waiting times, while Dublin and Cork experienced minor delays.
The disruption targeted Collins Aerospace’s Muse software, used by multiple airlines to share check-in desks and boarding gates. Parent company RTX confirmed a “cyber-related disruption” at selected airports and said teams were working quickly to fix the problem.
Travellers at Heathrow described chaotic scenes. Lucy Spencer waited over two hours to check in for a Malaysia Airlines flight. Others, like Monazza Aslam, missed onward connections after sitting on aircraft for over an hour. Johnny Lal’s family missed a flight to Mumbai for a funeral.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre is working with Collins Aerospace, affected airports and law enforcement. The European Commission is closely monitoring developments but said there was no sign of a “widespread or severe” attack.
Eurocontrol asked airlines to cancel half their Brussels flight schedules through Monday. Heathrow advised travellers to check flight statuses before travelling.
Experts warn that aviation remains vulnerable to digital disruptions. Early reports suggest the attack may involve ransomware, but its origin is still unknown.
