CaliToday (20/9/2025): A large-scale and sophisticated cyberattack has targeted the check-in and passenger processing systems of multiple airports across Europe, bringing operations to a standstill and causing extensive disruption. The attack has led to widespread flight delays and cancellations, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and airport staff scrambling to manage the escalating crisis.
The incident began unfolding in the early hours of Saturday morning, with airline and airport IT systems beginning to fail simultaneously across several countries. The primary targets appear to be the core digital infrastructure responsible for checking in passengers, processing baggage, and managing boarding procedures. As a result, automated check-in kiosks and agent workstations were rendered inoperable, forcing a chaotic return to manual methods.
Scenes of confusion have been reported from major international hubs, with massive queues snaking through terminals as overwhelmed staff attempted to issue handwritten boarding passes and manually tag luggage. Digital display boards, which normally provide crucial flight information, were either frozen or blank, adding to passenger frustration and uncertainty.
"It's complete chaos," one stranded passenger at a German airport told reporters. "Nobody knows what's going on. Our flight was supposed to leave three hours ago, but we are still in the check-in line. The staff are doing their best, but the system is completely down."
Airport authorities and national cybersecurity agencies have been mobilized and are working around the clock to contain the breach and restore functionality. In a joint statement, several affected airports confirmed they were experiencing a "major IT outage caused by external malicious activity" and advised all passengers to check directly with their airlines for the status of their flights before traveling to the airport.
While the source and motive behind the attack are still under investigation, cybersecurity experts suggest the coordinated nature of the failure points to a well-organized operation. The primary goal appears to be disruption rather than data theft, though a full forensic analysis is underway.
This event serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the world's critical infrastructure to cyber threats. The aviation industry, with its high degree of interconnected digital systems, has long been identified as a potential target. This attack highlights the cascading effect that a single point of failure in the digital supply chain can have on global travel.
A spokesperson for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) stated, "We are monitoring the situation closely and are in contact with national authorities. This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity resilience across the entire aviation ecosystem."
Airlines are struggling to manage the backlog of flights, with continued disruption expected for at least the next 24-48 hours. Passengers are being urged to exercise patience as recovery efforts continue in what is being described as one of the most significant cyberattacks to ever hit the European travel industry.
