Imagine you’re in line at Heathrow, dreaming of tapas in Barcelona or Eiffel Tower selfies, and suddenly… your check-in disappears. That’s exactly what happened this Saturday when a cyberattack hit Collins Aerospace’s check-in systems across major European airports, including London’s Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin, Dublin and Cork. Travelers found themselves stuck in digital limbo, with flight delays and cancellations piling up. 🛫😵💫
Tech glitch or digital villain? RTX, the parent company of Collins Aerospace, confirmed a “cyber-related disruption” to their software, refusing to name the culprit. Airports scrambled, with 29 departures and arrivals cancelled so far across Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin. Out of those, 651 flights were due at Heathrow, 228 in Brussels and 226 in Berlin on Saturday alone! 😱
At Heathrow, journalist Tereza Pultarova shared live from the chaos: “We’ve been left in the dark… It’s been great chaos, and quite frustrating for most people here.” Meanwhile in Berlin, travelers like Kim Reisen only got a vague “technical fault” update, and Siegfried Schwarz couldn’t believe it couldn’t be stopped: “With today’s tech, there’s no way to defend yourself against something like that?” 🤔
Despite the digital drama, airports turned to good old human power: manual check-ins and baggage drops kept operations running, albeit slowly. If you’re flying soon, double-check with your airline before you head out, and maybe pack extra patience! ⏳🛄
As Collins Aerospace works on a fix, this incident reminds us how fragile our digital lifelines can be. Whether you’re a globe-trotting student, a business leader on the move, or planning your next adventure, always stay updated and ready for Plan B. Safe travels—and may your check-in screen stay glitch-free! ✈️✨
Reference(s):
Passengers stranded at major European airports after cyberattack
cgtn.com
