Image Credentials: Image Title: Heathrow Airport Faces Continued Disruption Following Cyber Attack: Hundreds of Flights Delayed and Cancelled Source: (Sora.ChatGpt) Date: September 2025. Attribution: Created using AI-generated imagery (Sora.ChatGpt), this does not depict a real-world scene.
By Isabella Harper | Staff Writer with Agencies
Passengers at London Heathrow are experiencing another day of significant disruption after a cyber attack caused chaos across multiple European airports. The disruption, which started on Friday night, continues to affect flights, especially at Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin airports, as the incident’s aftermath lingers.
At Heathrow, 40 flights have been delayed today, adding to the ongoing chaos. Affected airlines were forced to manually process check-ins and baggage drops, causing lengthy queues, confusion, and uncertainty for travelers. Passengers flying from Heathrow’s Terminal 4 were particularly affected, facing issues ranging from delayed flight statuses to unclear information regarding their trips.
A statement from Heathrow Airport advised passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport and warned them to arrive no earlier than three hours before long-haul flights and two hours before domestic flights. Thankfully, British Airways at Terminal 5 is unaffected and has been operating normally, but other terminals at the airport continue to feel the impact of the disruption.
🚨BREAKING🚨:CYBERATTACK HITS EUROPEAN AIRPORTS 🇬🇧
Sky News: A hack on Collins Aerospace has crippled check-in & boarding systems at Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin & Zurich. At least 130 flights delayed in London. Passengers urged to confirm status with airlines. pic.twitter.com/qZig2O1mvF
— The_Independent (@TheIndeWire) September 20, 2025
On Saturday, around 14 flights across multiple terminals were either cancelled or delayed, though it remains unclear how many of these were caused by the technical issue. The airport is continuing to work on recovering from the cyber attack, but the effects on flight schedules are expected to persist.
The cyber attack, which occurred on the night of September 19, targeted Collins Aerospace, a company that provides check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across Europe. Brussels Airport confirmed the attack, noting that it had caused severe delays and cancellations due to the need for manual check-in and boarding procedures. The airport issued a warning that disruptions would continue into Sunday.
Similarly, Berlin Airport has stated the ongoing impact, highlighting long waiting times at check-in due to the cyber-related disruption. Passengers at both airports have been advised to allow for extra time as the situation continues to unfold.
Collins Aerospace, the company responsible for the affected systems, stated that it was working diligently to resolve the issue and restore full functionality as soon as possible. In their statement, they explained that the disruption is specifically related to their “Muse” software used for electronic customer check-ins and baggage handling. While the issue has been significant, manual check-in operations are helping mitigate some of the impacts on passengers.
The European Commission, which plays a role in overseeing airspace management across Europe, confirmed that aviation safety and air traffic control remain unaffected by the attack. They assured the public that they are closely monitoring the situation and working with partners like EUROCONTROL and ENISA, as well as airports and airlines, to restore normal operations.
In the meantime, passengers are encouraged to stay informed about their flight statuses and check for updates from the airlines and airports. While the situation remains fluid, authorities have expressed confidence that the disruption is not as widespread or severe as initially feared.
As Europe continues to work through the cyber attack’s fallout, air travelers are advised to exercise patience and plan for longer-than-usual waiting times as the industry recovers from this unprecedented incident.
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