A ransomware attack on a single third-party software provider brought Europe’s busiest airports to their knees, exposing how vulnerable our critical infrastructure has become to foreign cyber threats.
Story Snapshot
- Collins Aerospace’s MUSE software hit by ransomware, crippling automated check-in systems across major European airports
- London Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin Brandenburg, Dublin, and Cork airports forced to revert to manual operations
- EU cybersecurity agency ENISA confirms third-party ransomware attack, with law enforcement investigating but no group claiming responsibility
- Attack demonstrates catastrophic vulnerability of critical infrastructure dependent on centralized digital systems
Single Vendor Creates Continental Crisis
Collins Aerospace’s MUSE software serves as the digital backbone for automated check-in, baggage handling, and boarding systems across numerous European airports. When ransomware criminals struck this single point of failure, the attack cascaded across international borders within hours. The incident reveals how America’s critical infrastructure partners have created dangerous dependencies on centralized systems without adequate backup protocols or security hardening.
ENISA officially confirmed the ransomware attack, though the specific ransomware variant remains classified as law enforcement continues investigating. The attackers targeted Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, demonstrating sophisticated understanding of aviation infrastructure vulnerabilities. No criminal group has claimed responsibility, suggesting either a state-sponsored operation or criminals aware that targeting critical infrastructure brings intense government scrutiny.
Airports Scramble with Manual Fallbacks
London Heathrow acknowledged the severity, stating that “work continues to resolve and recover from an outage of a Collins Aerospace airline system that impacted check-in.” Despite assurances that “the vast majority of flights have continued to operate,” thousands of passengers faced delays and confusion as airports reverted to paper-based check-in procedures. The disruption exposed how little redundancy exists in modern aviation systems when digital infrastructure fails.
Brussels, Berlin Brandenburg, Dublin, and Cork airports similarly scrambled to maintain operations through manual processes their staff hadn’t regularly practiced. The attack occurred during peak travel periods, amplifying passenger frustration and operational costs. Airlines absorbed significant financial losses while airport personnel worked overtime to process travelers using backup systems that proved inadequate for modern passenger volumes.
National Security Implications Mount
This attack represents exactly the type of infrastructure vulnerability that foreign adversaries and criminal organizations exploit to destabilize Western nations. The fact that a single software provider could paralyze multiple international airports simultaneously should alarm anyone concerned about national security and economic resilience. Cybersecurity experts describe the incident as a “case study in systemic weaknesses” that demonstrates how over-reliance on interconnected digital systems creates catastrophic single points of failure.
EU agency confirms ransomware attack behind airport disruptions | Reuters https://t.co/q9nY6JlgY8
— Manuco (@manuco22) September 22, 2025
The aviation sector’s increasing digitalization has created attractive targets for ransomware groups seeking maximum disruption and ransom payments. Previous attacks on critical infrastructure like the Colonial Pipeline proved that criminals understand how to leverage infrastructure dependencies for maximum economic and political impact. This European airport attack follows the same playbook, targeting essential services that governments and businesses cannot afford to lose.
Sources:
European Airports Cyber Attack: ENISA Confirms Third-Party Ransomware
Ransomware behind global airport outage, says ENISA
EU agency ENISA says ransomware attack behind airport disruptions
