Heathrow Cyber Attack

Brussels and Berlin Airports Also Hit by Cyber Attack

On 19–21 September 2025, airports across London (Heathrow), Brussels, and Berlin experienced a coordinated cyber attack that severely disrupted passenger operations throughout Europe. The incident targeted critical IT systems provided by Collins Aerospace, which is a vital infrastructure supporting airline check-in and boarding. With core digital platforms offline, airport teams were forced to implement manual fallback procedures, triggering substantial delays, flight cancellations, and thousands of stranded passengers.

Although air traffic control and flight safety mechanisms remained secure, the disruption underscored the acute operational risk presented by compromised digital supply chains. This event provides a stark reminder of how pivotal resilient, well-defended technology is to the safe and reliable delivery of modern air travel.

How Did the Airport Cyber Attack Happen?

System failures on Friday evening impacted Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin airports in rapid succession.

Investigations traced the disruption to passenger handling systems operated by Collins Aerospace—critical infrastructure underpinning daily airport operations.

With digital platforms compromised, airlines reverted to manual check-in and boarding processes. This operational workaround led to pronounced delays, long queues, missed connections, and widespread cancellations through the weekend.

While the aviation sector has faced cyber outages before, the breadth and severity of this incident set a new benchmark for disruption, highlighting escalating risks to transportation networks reliant on complex, interconnected IT supply chains.

How Any Organisation Can Strengthen Cybersecurity

1. Redundancy and backup systems – avoid over-reliance on single vendors.

2. Regular cyber attack simulations – simulate outages to test resilience.

3. Stronger regulation – meet cybersecurity standards such as Cyber Essentials.

4. Transparent incident reporting – share lessons learned.

5. Cybersecurity is not just an IT problem – make it a core part of risk management.

Key Takeaway

The Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin airport cyber attack highlighted just how fragile the aviation industry’s digital backbone can be. As global travel grows and geopolitical tensions rise, airport cybersecurity must evolve from a back-office IT issue to a frontline operational priority.