A major cyberattack on the night of Friday, September 19, 2025, threw air travel into chaos across Europe, causing significant flight delays and cancellations at several busy airports, including Brussels, London Heathrow, and Berlin.
The attack didn't directly hit the airports but instead targeted the system of Collins Aerospace, a crucial third-party service provider. This company operates the MUSE software responsible for electronic check-in and boarding systems used by numerous airlines.
When the automated systems went dark, airports were forced to resort to slow, inefficient manual check-in and boarding procedures.
The immediate fallout:
- Brussels Airport reported a "large impact," with many flights experiencing long delays and cancellations.
- Travelers faced massive queues and were advised to check their flight status with their airlines and arrive much earlier than usual.
Collins Aerospace confirmed the "cyber-related disruption" and said its teams were working urgently to restore the systems, though the switch to manual processes ensured a severely disrupted travel day.
