Ransomware Cyberattack on Collins Aerospace Disrupts European Airports, Prompts Investigation
A ransomware cyberattack on Collins Aerospace's MUSE software caused widespread check-in system disruptions at multiple European airports, including Brussels and Heathrow, leading to flight cancellations and an ongoing recovery effort.
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Overview
- A ransomware cyberattack on Collins Aerospace's MUSE software caused widespread disruptions to check-in, boarding, and luggage systems at multiple European airports, affecting flights since Friday.
- The attack led to significant operational chaos for two days, resulting in numerous flight cancellations at major hubs like Brussels and London Heathrow, impacting thousands of passengers.
- Law enforcement has initiated an investigation into the incident, which is identified as part of a series of severe cyberattacks targeting various global industries and governments.
- Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of US aerospace and defense company RTX, is actively collaborating with affected airports to complete updates and restore full system functionality.
- This widespread disruption highlights the critical vulnerabilities and inherent risks airports face due to their reliance on third-party suppliers for essential technological infrastructure.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by focusing on factual reporting of a cyberattack impacting airport operations. They present information from multiple stakeholders, including cybersecurity agencies, affected airports, and the software provider, without employing loaded language or prioritizing specific viewpoints. The coverage emphasizes the incident's impact and ongoing recovery efforts.
"Criminal gangs often use ransomware to seriously disrupt their victims' systems and demand a ransom in bitcoin to reverse the damage."
BBC News"Passengers faced dozens of canceled and delayed flights as the impact of the cyberattack poised to worsen for at least one major airport."
ABC News"Travelers at major European airports including Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin faced significant delays this weekend following what Collins Aerospace described as a “cyber-related incident.”"
TechCrunch"Brussels Airport said it nonetheless was able to maintain 85% of scheduled departures over the weekend thanks to the deployment of extra staff by airport partners."
Chicago Tribune"While departure boards for London's Heathrow and Berlin's Brandenburg airports were showing signs of smoother arrivals and departures on Sunday, Brussels Airport was still facing considerable issues."
CBS News"It remained unclear when the situation would be fixed, she said: “For now, we have no idea on the timing, we’re taking it day by day.”"
Associated Press"Heathrow said on Sunday that efforts to resolve the issue were ongoing."
BBC News"As the day wore on, the fallout appeared to be contained."
Chicago Tribune"The attack means that only manual check-in and boarding was possible there, and the incident was having a "large impact" on flight schedules."
CBS News"A cyberattack targeting check-in and boarding systems has disrupted air traffic and caused delays at several of Europe’s major airports, officials said Saturday."
ABC News"The attack has rendered automated systems inoperable, allowing only manual check-in and boarding procedures, according to Brussels Airport."
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FAQ
MUSE (Multi-User System Environment) software by Collins Aerospace enables multiple airlines to share check-in desks and boarding gates at airports, centralizing passenger processing and resource use, which is critical for efficient airport operations.
Major European airports affected include London Heathrow, Brussels Airport, and Berlin Brandenburg, with Heathrow and Brussels experiencing significant flight cancellations and delays.
Collins Aerospace worked to restore system functionality and emphasized the issue was limited to electronic check-in and baggage systems, mitigable by manual operations. Airports advised passengers to check flight status with airlines, adjust arrival times, and deployed additional staff to assist passengers.
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