cyber attack european airports delays
© Associated PressPeople stand in a line to check in after a cyber attack caused delays at Brussels International Airport, September 20, 2025
A cyberattack has impacted operations at select European airports, including London Heathrow (LHR), leading to significant delays and cancellations. The attack targeted the MUSE (Multi-User System Environment) software developed by Collins Aerospace for electronic check-in, bag drop and boarding, affecting several airlines that use the software.

Dozens of flights have been canceled so far and hundreds more are delayed as passengers face extremely long queues and manual check-ins. Collins Aerospace has acknowledged the attack and said it is urgently working on a fix.

Cyberattack Hits Europe Airports

The number of cancellations and delays will certainly rise, leaving more passengers stranded or facing long queues. It isn't known how many airports have been affected, but Ireland's Cork Airport and Dublin Airport have also reported disruption. According to the BBC, British Airways is operating normally as it has a backup system in place, but the majority of other airlines at Heathrow have been impacted.
"We have become aware of a cyber-related disruption to our Muse software in select airports. We are actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible. The impact is limited to electronic customer check-in and baggage drop and can be mitigated with manual check-in operations. We will share more details as they are available."
Passengers Face Long Delays
cyber attack european airports delays
© ReutersTravellers wait in queues at Brussels airport, after a cyber attack at a service provider for check-in and boarding systems disrupted operations at several major European airports September 20, 2025
Airline staff have been processing passengers manually, a more time-consuming process that has led to lengthy queues and delays. Videos from Brussels Airport show airline staff writing out boarding passes by hand as long queues form in the lines, while images of heavily congested queues in Heathrow show the extent of the turmoil.

Although stating the degree of disruption was "minimal," Heathrow has told its passengers not to arrive at the airport early, advising timings of no earlier than three hours before long-haul flights and two hours before domestic flights.

Rising Industry Cyberattacks

Given how interdependent many systems are in the aviation industry, it finds itself at a heightened risk. This is particularly true of third-party systems like Collins' MUSE which are used by multiple operators.

According to a report from French company Thales, the aviation sector saw a staggering 600% increase in cyberattacks from 2024 to 2025, warning that the industry's vulnerabilities have made it an ideal target for hackers.