🛬Cyberattack Grounds Airplanes in Europe

This month, major airports across Europe—including London's Heathrow—were thrown into chaos when a cyberattack hit a key third-party technology provider, Collins Aerospace. As the incident unfolded, thousands of passengers faced delays and confusion—showcasing just how much the aviation sector, and society at large, relies on interconnected digital infrastructure.

Anatomy of the Breach

The attackers targeted Collins Aerospace, a U.S.-based vendor supplying check-in and boarding technology to numerous airlines. While the exact method of attack is under investigation, its immediate impact was felt across several countries. British Airways, for instance, managed to operate about 90% of flights on Saturday but warned travelers of ongoing delays. Airports scrambled to implement alternative check-in processes, limiting disruptions where possible, but the ripple effects continued for days.

Authorities from the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre, law enforcement, and aviation regulators worked swiftly to assess damages and coordinate a response. The incident highlighted the vulnerability not just of airlines directly, but of the suppliers and partners on which their operations depend.

Lessons and Recommendations

This breach underscores several critical cybersecurity trends and lessons relevant beyond the airline sector:

• Third-party risk is real: Organizations increasingly depend on outside service providers. Rigorous vendor risk assessments, security audits, and contractual requirements for cybersecurity standards are now mandatory—not optional.

• Business continuity planning: Airports that quickly established alternative check-in options minimized passenger disruption. Every organization should regularly test incident response and business continuity plans, including for supply chain failures.

• Aging infrastructure is a threat: Experts have warned that legacy systems and “connected everything” in aviation (and other industries) expand the attack surface. Upgrading and patching critical technology is vital.

Key Takeaways for 2025 and Beyond

• Insist on robust third-party cyber risk management across all vendors.

• Regularly rehearse incident response and alternative workflows to reduce downtime during crises.

• Invest in secure, modern infrastructure: Replace outdated systems before they become points of failure.

• Monitor news from groups like the National Cyber Security Centre and third-party vulnerability advisories to stay ahead of emerging threats.

Incidents like this will only grow in frequency as reliance on digital supply chains increases. Staying prepared—and demanding security from every partner—will determine which organizations weather the next storm.