Cyber Chaos at Airports: Arrest Made in Major Cyber-Attack Case

A man in his forties has been arrested in West Sussex in connection with a significant cyber-attack that has wreaked havoc across several major European airports, including Heathrow. This disruption, caused by a malfunction in the baggage and check-in software of Collins Aerospace, has led to hundreds of flight delays and forced some airports to resort to manual check-in processes using pen and paper. The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed that the arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into this cyber incident.

The software failure had cascading effects across various airports, resulting in a severe operational crisis that impacted flights from Brussels, Dublin, and Berlin as well. Ryan Foster, head of the NCA’s national cyber crime unit, emphasized that while the arrest is a positive development, the investigation is still in its early stage. The individual arrested is suspected of violations under the Computer Misuse Act and has been released on bail.

Collins Aerospace, a US-based company, has been making efforts to restore its software systems but has faced challenges relaunching them since the incident was discovered on Friday night. Their parent company, RTX Corporation, expressed gratitude for the NCA’s assistance but indicated there might be extended timelines for operational recovery, advising airlines to prepare for additional manual workarounds for at least a week.

The EU’s cyber-security agency reported that ransomware was involved in the attack, which continues to be a major concern for organizations, with cyber-crime gangs reportedly earning vast sums from ransoms. The aviation sector has experienced a dramatic 600% increase in such attacks over the past year, as highlighted by a report from French aerospace company Thales. As operations strive to stabilize, airports are urging passengers to check flight statuses and prepare for possible delays and cancellations.