Cyberattack on Collins Aerospace Disrupts Major European Airports

A cyberattack on a key aviation systems provider has disrupted check-in and boarding operations at several major European airports, leading to flight delays and cancellations on Saturday.

According to Reuters, the attack targeted Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, which supplies software used by airlines and airports worldwide.

Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin Hit

London’s Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest, confirmed that Collins Aerospace’s systems had suffered a technical issue affecting passenger processing.

Brussels Airport and Berlin Airport also reported being impacted, warning travelers of long delays and possible cancellations.

Brussels officials said the incident began Friday night, disabling automated check-in and baggage systems and forcing staff to switch to manual processing.
“This has a large impact on the flight schedule and will, unfortunately, cause delays and cancellations,” the airport said.

Berlin Airport issued a similar notice, urging passengers to prepare for longer queues while technicians worked to restore systems.

RTX Confirms Cyber-Related Disruption

RTX acknowledged the issue in a statement, describing it as a “cyber-related disruption” at selected airports. The company said the outage was limited to electronic check-in and baggage drop, which could be managed through manual procedures.
“We are working to fix the issue as quickly as possible,” RTX said.

Despite the disruptions, Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest, and Zurich Airport reported no impact.

Airlines Respond

Among major carriers, EasyJet confirmed its flights were operating normally and said it did not expect significant disruption. Ryanair and British Airways’ parent company, IAG, did not immediately comment.

Meanwhile, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister, Krzysztof Gawkowski, said there were no signs that Polish airports had been affected.

Authorities advised passengers flying from affected hubs to check directly with their airlines before heading to the airport.

Growing Cyber Threats to Aviation

The incident highlights growing cyber vulnerabilities in aviation.

• In July 2025, Russia’s Aeroflot suffered a major breach that canceled more than 100 flights and disrupted both domestic and international operations.

• Earlier this year, several airports worldwide faced delays due to hacktivist DDoS attacks and ransomware campaigns.

• In one case, Kuala Lumpur International Airport was forced to switch to manual operations for hours after a ransomware attack crippled its IT systems.

With aviation increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, hacktivists, and state-backed actors, experts warn that airlines and airports must strengthen defenses to safeguard global travel networks.