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A significant cyber incident on a well-known aviation software provider has led to major disturbances at prominent European airports, including London’s Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin, resulting in numerous flight delays and cancellations on Saturday.
The incident incapacitated electronic check-in and baggage drop systems, compelling airport personnel to revert to manual processing methods and leaving thousands of travelers stranded in extensive lines.
The disruption was due to a “cyber-related interference” that targeted Collins Aerospace, a division of RTX (previously Raytheon Technologies), according to BBC reports.
The firm’s Muse software, which enables several airlines to utilize shared check-in desks, boarding gates, and baggage systems, became unusable.
As a result, airports were compelled to disconnect from the affected systems and manage passenger processing manually, which led to considerable operational delays.
Brussels Airport indicated that the incident took place on Friday night, leading to a “significant impact on the flight timetable” with multiple delays and cancellations. Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport also confirmed extended waiting times, while Dublin and Cork airports in Ireland experienced a “minor impact,” with some airlines resorting to manual check-ins.
This technical failure translated into chaos for passengers. At Heathrow’s Terminal 4, travelers reported waiting in lines for over two hours as airline staff manually tagged luggage and processed check-ins via phone.
One traveler, Lucy Spencer, told the BBC that mobile boarding passes malfunctioned at the gate, forcing passengers to return to the check-in counters where hundreds were already queued.
RTX acknowledged the cyber incident affecting its Collins Aerospace software at “select airports” and stated the impact was confined to “electronic customer check-in and baggage drop.”
The company emphasized that the disruption could be alleviated through manual check-in processes and that its teams were “actively working to rectify the issue and restore complete functionality.”
In the interim, affected airports like Heathrow allocated additional staff to assist passengers and advised travelers to verify their flight status with their respective airlines before arriving at the airport.
According to flight tracking service FlightAware, hundreds of flights faced delays across the impacted airports throughout Saturday, with Brussels Airport alone confirming 10 cancellations and 17 flights delayed by over an hour.
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