By Emmanuel Nduka
Major European airports, including Brussels, Berlin, and London’s Heathrow, were thrown into chaos on Saturday after a “cyber-related disruption” crippled automated check-in and baggage drop systems, forcing delays and cancellations.
The outage, linked to the MUSE software provided by Collins Aerospace, affected at least three busy air hubs. Brussels Airport was the worst hit, with at least 10 flights cancelled and 17 others delayed by more than an hour. By Saturday morning, the airport admitted the issue was unresolved and was having a “large impact” on its schedule.
“Only manual check-in and boarding are possible at the moment. Passengers are advised to confirm their flight status with their airlines before heading to the airport,” Brussels Airport said in a statement.
According to the BBC, European aviation regulator Eurocontrol directed airlines to cancel half of their flights to and from Brussels between 4:00 am GMT Saturday and 2:00 am Sunday.
London’s Heathrow which stands as one of Europe’s busiest airport also reported disruption, warning passengers of delays linked to “technical issues” in its check-in and boarding systems. Berlin Airport posted a similar alert, citing “longer waiting times” due to a Europe-wide systems failure.
Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of US aerospace and defence group RTX, said it was “actively working to restore full functionality” but admitted the disruption was cyber-related.
The aviation industry has faced a surge in cyberattacks, with a 600 percent rise recorded between 2024 and 2025, according to French aerospace firm Thales. The report warned that “every link in the chain, from airlines and airports to navigation systems, is vulnerable.”
The latest incident adds to a growing list of cyber and IT-related disruptions that have rattled global aviation, from Japan Airlines in 2024 to Qantas in 2025, underlining the sector’s exposure to digital threats.
