Cyber Attack Grounds Flights, Strands Passengers at European Airports

Cyber Attack Grounds Flights, Strands Passengers at European Airports

By Paul V. Young – TheNationWeek.Com | September 22, 2025

LONDON, UK – A cyber attack targeting a key provider of check-in and boarding systems crippled operations at several major European airports on Saturday (Sept. 20, 2025), stranding passengers and delaying or canceling flights.

London’s Heathrow, Brussels Airport, and Berlin Airport were affected, causing widespread disruption to travel plans.

The attack targeted Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, which provides essential software and systems for numerous airlines globally.

RTX confirmed a “cyber-related disruption” to its software at select airports but declared the issue limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop.

The company claimed manual check-in operations could mitigate the impact and that they were working to resolve the issue swiftly.

However, the reality on the ground painted a different picture.

Brussels Airport reported the incident occurred Friday night, rendering automated systems inoperable and forcing reliance on slower manual procedures.

“This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will unfortunately cause delays and cancellations,” the airport stated on its website as it confirmed 10 flight cancellations and an average delay of one hour for departing flights.

Heathrow Airport acknowledged the technical issue affecting Collins Aerospace systems and warned passengers of delays.

The situation left travelers in the dark, with many struggling to obtain information and assistance.

“Unfortunately, the airline I’m with… they don’t have a service desk here, so we’ve been left in the dark,” Tereza Pultarova, a journalist stranded at Heathrow en route to Amsterdam and Cape Town, told BBC News.

Similar scenes unfolded at Berlin Airport, where passengers reported long waiting times and a lack of clarity.

“I … find it inexplicable that, with today’s technology, there’s no way to defend yourself against something like that,” said Siegfried Schwarz, a traveler from Berlin.

While some airlines, like EasyJet, reported operating normally and anticipating minimal impact, others remained silent.

Ryanair and British Airways owner IAG did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

US carrier Delta Air Lines stated they expected minimal impact on flights departing from the affected airports and had implemented a workaround.

The incident underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to cyber attacks and widespread disruption.

Authorities are investigating the source and nature of the attack.

British transport minister Heidi Alexander said she was receiving regular updates on the situation.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski assured the public that there were no indications of threats to Polish airports.

Passengers were advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight information before traveling to affected airports.