A major cyberattack on Collins Aerospace’s MUSE software caused severe disruptions at Europe’s busiest airports between September 19–21, 2025. The attack targeted check-in and boarding systems, forcing airports to switch to manual procedures and leading to widespread flight delays, cancellations, and passenger chaos.
Timeline
- Friday, September 19: Cyberattack launched late evening against Collins Aerospace systems
- Saturday, September 20: Major disruptions at Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin, and Dublin airports
- Sunday, September 21: Continued delays; Brussels ordered airlines to cancel 50% of departing flights
Key Statements
- RTX (Collins parent): “Cyber-related disruption to our MUSE software at select airports… mitigated with manual check-in.”
- Brussels Airport: Confirmed “cyberattack on Friday night against service provider” impacting check-in & boarding.
- Heidi Alexander (UK Transport Secretary): “Incident affecting airline check-in and boarding… monitoring situation.”
Expert & Industry Reactions
- Paul Charles (Travel Analyst): Called it a “very clever cyberattack” hitting multiple airlines at once.
- Rafe Pilling (Sophos): Stressed “interconnected nature of digital infrastructure supporting air travel.”
- Adrianus Warmenhoven (NordVPN): Warned airport cyberattacks are “uniquely disruptive.”
Immediate Impact
- 29 cancellations across Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels (Saturday)
- Brussels Airport: 44 flights canceled Sunday; 50% departures cut
- Heathrow: 651 departures affected; passengers told to arrive 3 hours early
- Manual operations: Airports reverted to paper-based systems
Economic & Operational Impact
- Passenger disruption: Tens of thousands stranded, long queues
- Airline losses: Extra staff, costly manual procedures
- Supply chain risk: Aviation exposed as dependent on shared digital infrastructure
Global Angle
This attack adds to rising cyber threats on critical infrastructure. Recent cases include Jaguar Land Rover production shutdown and Marks & Spencer financial hit.
The European Commission said no evidence yet of a “widespread or severe attack” but confirmed ongoing probes.
FAQs on European Airport Cyberattack
Q1. Which airports were affected?
Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin, and Dublin were the worst hit. Other European airports also faced knock-on effects.
Q2. What system was hacked?
Collins Aerospace’s MUSE software, used for check-in, baggage drop, and boarding.
Q3. How long will disruptions last?
Authorities expect delays to continue into the week as systems are gradually restored.
Q4. Were passenger data or safety compromised?
No evidence so far of data theft or flight safety risks; the attack mainly disrupted check-in processes.
Q5. Who is behind the attack?
Investigations are ongoing; no group has yet claimed responsibility.
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