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The Digest:

A coordinated cyberattack exposed the fragility of modern air travel, plunging some of Europe's busiest airports into chaos. Critical check-in and boarding systems were crippled, forcing Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin to resort to manual processing and leaving thousands of passengers stranded in lengthy delays.

Key Points:
  • The attack targeted Collins Aerospace, a key supplier of airport IT systems.
  • Brussels Airport confirmed systems were "inoperable," leading to cancellations and delays.
  • Heathrow and Berlin airports acknowledged severe "technical issues" affecting operations.
  • Airlines were forced to use manual check-in processes, causing massive queues.
  • Passengers reported circling runways and significant uncertainty about their flights.
  • The parent company, RTX, confirmed "cyber-related disruption" and is working on a fix.
  • Airports advised travelers to allow extra time but not arrive too early to avoid congestion.
This incident underscores a critical vulnerability in global infrastructure, where a single digital breach can trigger a storm of disruption across international borders.

Sources: Linda Ikeji's Blog