Cyberattack on Aviation Systems Provider has disrupted European Airports and caused flight chaos.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that a cyberattack on Collins Aerospace, a key aviation systems provider and subsidiary of RTX, has disrupted passenger check-in and boarding operations at several major European airports, leading to widespread flight delays and cancellations on Saturday.
Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin Among Those Affected
London’s Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest hub, confirmed that Collins Aerospace’s systems were hit by a technical issue affecting passenger processing. Brussels Airport and Berlin Airport also reported disruptions, warning travelers of long waits and potential cancellations.
Brussels Airport said the incident began Friday night, knocking automated check-in and baggage systems offline and forcing staff to revert to manual operations. “This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will, unfortunately, cause delays and cancellations,” the airport said in a statement.
Berlin Airport issued a similar advisory, cautioning passengers to expect longer waiting times until systems are restored.
RTX Confirms Cyber-Related Disruption
RTX acknowledged the problem in an emailed statement, describing it as a “cyber-related disruption” limited to check-in and baggage-drop systems. The company stressed that manual workarounds were available and said it was working to restore full functionality as quickly as possible.
Despite the disruption, Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest, and Zurich Airport both reported normal operations.
Airlines React
Among major carriers, EasyJet said its flights were operating normally and that it did not expect the outage to affect its weekend schedule. Ryanair and British Airways owner IAG have yet to comment.
Poland’s deputy prime minister and digital affairs minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski, confirmed that Polish airports had not been impacted.
Authorities advised passengers traveling from affected airports to confirm their flight status with airlines before heading to the airport, as delays and cancellations are likely to continue until systems are fully restored.
Growing Cyber Threats in Aviation
The incident underscores the growing vulnerability of global aviation infrastructure to cyberattacks. In July 2025, Russia’s Aeroflot suffered a massive cyber breach that grounded over 100 flights, disrupting both domestic and international operations.
Airports worldwide have also been targeted by hacktivists and ransomware groups in recent months. Earlier this year, Kuala Lumpur International Airport was forced to switch to manual operations after a ransomware attack disabled critical systems for several hours.
