\n<\/p>\n
\n A \u00a0cyber attack\u00a0 targeting the Muse recording software, provided by \u00a0Collins Aerospace\u00a0, significantly disrupted traffic at Brussels airports, Heathrow in London, and Berlin this Saturday, September 20. Passengers experienced \u00a0delays\u00a0, \u00a0cancellations\u00a0, and \u00a0long queues\u00a0 as a result of the incident.\n<\/p>\n
A cyber attack affecting Muse software disrupted passengers across major European airports\u2014including Brussels, Heathrow, and Berlin\u2014on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Manual registration processes led to significant delays and cancellations; Eurocontrol advised canceling up to 50% of flights to Heathrow.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, is working on a rapid resolution; cyber attacks in aviation have surged by 600% between January 2024 and April 2025.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<p>\n The European airports of \u00a0Brussels\u00a0, \u00a0Heathrow\u00a0 in London, and \u00a0Berlin\u00a0 were disrupted on Saturday due to a \u00a0cyber attack\u00a0 on software designed for recording passengers. Travelers faced extensive waiting periods, sometimes enduring \u00a0hours\u00a0 before they could complete necessary formalities.\n<\/p>\n\n<p>\n \u201cWe are informed of a \u00a0cyber-origin disturbance\u00a0 on our Muse software affecting several airports,\u201d said Collins Aerospace in a brief statement, adding that the impact was \u00a0limited to electronic recording of customers and luggage deposits\u00a0.\n<\/p>\n\n<p>\n The specifics regarding the nature and origin of the cyber attack were not disclosed. According to Brussels Airport, the incident occurred \u201c\u00a0Friday evening\u00a0.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"txt-int\">Long Wait Times and Cancellations<\/h2>\n\n<p>\n \u201cThis has had \u00a0significant consequences\u00a0 on the flight program and will regrettably result in delays and cancellations,\u201d an airport spokesperson commented. By midday Saturday, several flights had been disrupted, with reports indicating that over \u00a010 flights\u00a0 had been canceled and \u00a017 flights\u00a0 experienced delays of more than an hour due to the need for manual check-in.\n<\/p>\n\n<p>\n Imagery captured by the \u00a0AFP\u00a0 showcased long queues forming near the check-in counters. At London\u2019s Heathrow airport, long lines were visible in front of the majority of terminal \u00a04 counters\u00a0, as reported by an \u00a0AFP\u00a0 journalist.\n<\/p>\n\n<p>\n A 41-year-old architect, Rowan, stated, \u201cThe system was down, which significantly increased passenger numbers waiting to check in.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"txt-int\">Passengers' Experiences<\/h2>\n\n<p>\n An unnamed Algerian treasurer shared her distress at waiting more than an hour just to check in her baggage. \u201cIt feels stagnant. They\u2019ve told us everything must be handled manually,\u201d she reflected, worried about missing her flight.\n<\/p>\n\n<p>\n Maria Casey, a traveler from \u00a0Hampshire\u00a0, recounted her experience of waiting for \u00a0three hours\u00a0 to check in for her \u00a0Etihad\u00a0 flight to \u00a0Thailand\u00a0 via \u00a0Abu Dhabi\u00a0. \u201cThey had to write our labels by hand. Only two counters were open, and we were furious,\u201d she expressed.\n<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"txt-int\">Extended Registration Process<\/h2>\n\n<p>\n According to the \u00a0BBC\u00a0, Eurocontrol, an airline surveillance organization, recommended airlines cancel half of their flights to \u00a0Heathrow\u00a0 between \u00a04 AM GMT\u00a0 and \u00a02 AM GMT\u00a0 on Sunday due to the incident.\n<\/p>\n\n<p>\n Heathrow airport advised passengers to check in with their airlines and arrive early to accommodate the lengthy registration process. Meanwhile, Berlin airport confirmed it was also affected by this \u201c\u00a0technical problem with a supplier\u00a0.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n<p>\n Contrarily, the ADP group, which operates Parisian airports Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly, reported no impact from the incident. In its communications, Collins Aerospace stated they were working to resolve the issue \u201cas quickly as possible.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"txt-int\">A Surge in Cyber Attacks<\/h2>\n\n<p>\n Collins Aerospace is a subsidiary of the American aerospace and defense company \u00a0RTX\u00a0 (formerly \u00a0Raytheon\u00a0). The increase in digital threats has prompted concerns about cyber attacks disrupting air travel globally.\n<\/p>\n\n<p>\n A report from \u00a0Thales\u00a0, a defense and technology group, indicated that 27 \u00a0ransomware\u00a0 attacks against aviation entities occurred between January 2024 and April 2025, marking a \u00a0600% increase\u00a0 compared to the previous year, targeting airlines, airports, navigation systems, and even subcontractors.\n<\/p>\n\n<p>\n In \u00a0July\u00a0, Australian airline \u00a0Qantas\u00a0 fell victim to hackers, who gained access to sensitive data for \u00a0six million customers\u00a0. In \u00a0December 2024\u00a0, \u00a0Japan Airlines\u00a0 also faced a cyber attack.\n<\/p>\n\nThe recent disruptions highlight the growing vulnerabilities within our critical infrastructure systems and signify the pressing need for enhancing cybersecurity in the aviation sector. As technology becomes increasingly integral to our travel experience, ensuring security measures are robust and up-to-date is paramount to protect against future threats.<\/code><\/pre>\n