A wave of digital disruption swept across some of Europe’s busiest airports last weekend, causing flight cancellations, long delays, and a return to manual operations. Authorities have now arrested a man in southern England believed to be behind the cyberattacks that targeted key airport systems.
The suspect, reportedly in his 40s and residing in West Sussex, is accused of orchestrating a ransomware-style attack that crippled check-in systems at major hubs including Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels. The systems affected were developed by U.S.-based aerospace and defense firm Collins Aerospace, widely used across European terminals.
The cyberattack began on Friday and continued through the weekend, forcing airlines to cancel flights and passengers to endure hours of waiting. Airport staff had to revert to manual check-in procedures, triggering operational chaos.
While the suspect is now in custody, cybersecurity experts warn that the full technical scope of the breach remains unclear. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities have yet to confirm whether the attacker acted alone or as part of a larger network.
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This post was published on 25 September 2025 10:07 pm