A major suspected cyber attack has plunged some of Europe's busiest airports into chaos, causing severe disruption to thousands of passengers. London Heathrow, alongside Brussels and Berlin airports, is experiencing significant delays and a high number of cancellations as critical IT systems remain compromised.
The incident, which began over the weekend, has crippled key functions essential for smooth airport operations. The ripple effect is being felt across the continent, turning travel plans upside down for an untold number of people.
Terminals Turned Into Waiting Rooms
Passengers at the affected hubs have faced a frustrating scene of long queues, confusion, and limited information. Flights have been grounded or heavily delayed as airport authorities work manually to process travellers, a painstakingly slow process without their digital systems.
"It's absolute bedlam in here," reported one stranded traveller at Heathrow's Terminal 5. "There are no screens working, the line for the help desk snakes around the entire hall, and no one can tell us when we might get a flight."
Critical Systems Offline
While the exact nature of the IT failure is under investigation, early reports from security sources point to a sophisticated cyber attack targeting vital airport infrastructure. Systems responsible for passenger processing, baggage handling, and flight information displays are among those believed to be affected.
Aviation experts have long warned about the vulnerability of critical transport infrastructure to such digital assaults. This event appears to be a stark realisation of those fears, highlighting a potential weak spot in European security.
Response and Recovery Efforts
Airport officials have released statements acknowledging a "major IT systems issue" and have apologised for the widespread inconvenience. Teams of IT specialists and cybersecurity professionals are working around the clock to restore systems safely and securely.
Passengers are being urged to contact their airlines directly for the latest information on their flight status before travelling to any of the affected airports. The advice is to expect continued disruption throughout the day as recovery efforts continue.
This incident serves as a serious reminder of the fragile digital backbone of modern travel and the profound real-world impact a successful cyber attack can have on millions of lives.
