Europe (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A cyberattack on Collins Aerospace’s MUSE system disrupted operations at Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin airports, causing flight delays, cancellations, and manual check-ins, with authorities actively working to restore normal service.
As The Telegraph News reported, a major cyberattack on Friday, September 19, 2025, caused serious disruption at several European airports. London Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin Brandenburg were the worst affected. The attack hit Collins Aerospace, a global provider of passenger processing systems. Automated check-in, baggage drop, and boarding systems stopped working.
At Heathrow, staff had to switch to manual check-in. Long lines formed, flights were delayed by more than 30 minutes, and some were cancelled. Brussels reported several cancelled flights and delays of over an hour.
Berlin also faced delays and long check-in times. Airlines and airport authorities worked quickly to manage the situation. Extra staff were brought in to help passengers. Travellers were advised to check flight status before heading to the airport.
The company said it was aware of
“cyber-related disruption”
to its passenger processing software and was working to
“restore full functionality to our customers as quickly as possible”.
What Caused Heathrow Brussels Berlin Flight Delays from Collins Aerospace Cyberattack?
Officials mentioned that the attack also exposed weaknesses in airport technology. Collins Aerospace confirmed its MUSE software, which handles self-service check-in and baggage, was affected. The company is working to restore full service.
Some airlines, like Delta, reported little disruption. Others faced major delays and logistical challenges. European aviation authorities are monitoring the situation closely. Brussels Airport said the incident caused a
“large impact on the flight schedule”
And warned passengers that delays and cancellations were likely.
When automated check-in and boarding systems failed, employees were forced to perform these tasks by hand. Longer wait times, crowded check-in desks, and general airport disruption resulted from this. According to authorities, efforts were underway to control the situation and lessen traveller inconvenience.
The airport added that the service provider responsible for the affected systems is actively trying to fix the problem as quickly as possible. Passengers with flights scheduled for Saturday, Sep 20, 2025, were advised to confirm their travel plans with their airlines before coming to the airport. Airport officials said they were closely monitoring the situation and that teams were working continuously to restore normal operations and keep flights running safely.
Berlin Airport said:
“Due to a technical issue at a system provider operating across Europe, there are longer waiting times at check-in. We are working on a quick solution.”
“Many airports, including those affected in this incident, rely on the same third-party systems for passenger handling. While this approach boosts operational efficiency, it significantly reduces resilience,”
Mr Maknickas said.
“A single cyberattack on one vendor can quickly escalate into widespread disruptions across multiple airports.”
Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2 was cleared after a suspicious object was spotted during security checks. Gardaí quickly arrived and moved passengers to safe areas outside. The Defence Forces bomb team and counter-terror police were also called in to examine the item. It is not yet clear if this scare is linked to the cyber attack that has disrupted other airports in Europe.