Over the weekend, airports in Europe faced serious disruptions. At major airports including Heathrow (London), Brussels, and Berlin's Brandenburg, the systems used to check-in passengers and board them on the airplanes broke down. Dublin and Cork also had issues, but to a lesser extent.
The cause? A ransomware attack on Collins Aerospace, a company that runs the MUSE system which is used to organize check-in counters and boarding gates for airlines at airports. Without it, operations at the airports were severely hampered.
• More than 100 flights were cancelled or delayed.
• Thousands of passengers were hand checked in, compounding the issues and creating confusion with the lines.
• A number of airports asked passengers to check the status of their flights before going to the airport.
Collins Aerospace began working to resolve the issues in short order. The police and cyber security teams began to assist also.
• The MUSE system serves many airlines (so this attack had a big impact around the world).
• Attacker's did not strike at the airport, but rather a third party vendor, which is sometimes a little more vulnerable.
• There are manual systems available, but they are more time intensive and better at the digital systems.
Thus, yes these attacks are going to continue unless security is tightened.
• Collins Aerospace is working to restore systems.
• Local police and national security agencies are investigating.
• Airports are managing passengers through manual systems and notifying passengers about delays.
What needs to change:
• Airports and airlines need better provisions for back up systems, and staff should practice using them
• Technology providers such as Collins Aerospace should implement a higher level of security.
• Passengers (which would be us) should sign up for flight alerts so we are not caught off guard.
The good news is that often these incidents motivate a company to address problems. Hopefully, we will see some significant improvements with better systems, more backups, and better security.
If you are flying soon, checking your flight before leaving home is always a good idea. Airlines may need forced backup, right?
The cause? A ransomware attack on Collins Aerospace, a company that runs the MUSE system which is used to organize check-in counters and boarding gates for airlines at airports. Without it, operations at the airports were severely hampered.
What Was The Extent Of The Disruption?
To say the least, not much could go worse:• More than 100 flights were cancelled or delayed.
• Thousands of passengers were hand checked in, compounding the issues and creating confusion with the lines.
• A number of airports asked passengers to check the status of their flights before going to the airport.
Collins Aerospace began working to resolve the issues in short order. The police and cyber security teams began to assist also.
What Caused This Event?
Good question. There are several reasons:• The MUSE system serves many airlines (so this attack had a big impact around the world).
• Attacker's did not strike at the airport, but rather a third party vendor, which is sometimes a little more vulnerable.
• There are manual systems available, but they are more time intensive and better at the digital systems.
Thus, yes these attacks are going to continue unless security is tightened.
What Is Being Done?
Right now:• Collins Aerospace is working to restore systems.
• Local police and national security agencies are investigating.
• Airports are managing passengers through manual systems and notifying passengers about delays.
What needs to change:
• Airports and airlines need better provisions for back up systems, and staff should practice using them
• Technology providers such as Collins Aerospace should implement a higher level of security.
• Passengers (which would be us) should sign up for flight alerts so we are not caught off guard.
My Thoughts
I've experienced the same airport situations when systems fail. In my opinion, it's bad. It's an upsetting, helpless feeling when no one has answers to your questions. This incident demonstrates exactly how vulnerable airport technology can be.The good news is that often these incidents motivate a company to address problems. Hopefully, we will see some significant improvements with better systems, more backups, and better security.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, a ransomware attack happened at Collins Aerospace, which crippled flight activity across Europe. Delays, cancellations, and long queues all bugged thousands of travelers.If you are flying soon, checking your flight before leaving home is always a good idea. Airlines may need forced backup, right?