A cyberattack on 19/9 disrupted check-in and boarding systems at several European airports, including Brussels Airport, according to Belgian officials. The attack forced airlines to process passengers manually, causing significant flight delays.

Officials at Brandenburg Airport in Berlin, Germany, also reported a cyberattack on a passenger processing system provider on the evening of 19/9, prompting the airport to disconnect from the system.

Passengers at Brandenburg Airport in Berlin, Germany, on 20/9. Photo: AP

Passengers at Brandenburg Airport in Berlin, Germany, on 20/9. Photo: AP

Heathrow Airport in London, one of Europe's busiest airports, described the issue as a "technical incident" affecting its check-in and boarding service provider.

"Collins Aerospace, which provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines at airports globally, is experiencing a technical issue that may cause delays for departing passengers," Heathrow Airport said in a statement.

Airports advised travelers to check their flight status and apologized for the inconvenience.

Founded in 2018, Collins Aerospace is an American aerospace and defense technology company and a subsidiary of RTX, formerly Raytheon Technologies. The company provides technology that enables passengers to self-check-in, print boarding passes and baggage tags, and self-tag their luggage.

The company acknowledged disruptions related to its Multi-User System Environment (MUSE) software at several airports. "We are actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality to our customers as soon as possible," Collins Aerospace said. "This only impacts passenger electronic check-in and bag drops, which can be mitigated through manual processes."

Vu Hoang (AP)