Technical Details of the Incident
The MUSE software is a crucial system for sharing check-in solutions among airlines and ensuring smooth operations. The cyberattack caused a temporary outage, forcing airports to revert to manual check-in methods, which significantly slowed down operations and led to chaos in the terminals.
Impact on Airport Operations
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Heathrow: Delays and flight cancellations, with a full switch to manual check-in.
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Brussels Airport: Widespread flight cancellations, with passengers advised to arrive well in advance.
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Berlin Brandenburg: Operations remain limited, with longer waiting times.
A Growing Cyber Threat
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warns that cyberattacks on airports and airlines are increasing dramatically, with the number of incidents rising by 600% between 2024 and 2025. This event confirms that the aviation sector is increasingly vulnerable to digital threats.
Expert Reactions and Future Steps
Aviation expert Paul Charles highlighted that sophisticated attacks exploit vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure and can severely disrupt international air traffic. British and German cybersecurity teams are investigating the incident, and the findings are expected to influence strategies for protecting critical infrastructure across Europe.
Conclusion
The MUSE software incident reveals just how fragile aviation’s digital infrastructure is. Strengthening cybersecurity, enhancing system resilience, and implementing preventive measures are becoming top priorities to minimise the risk of future incidents.
Source: European Union Aviation Safety Agency, RTX Corporation, International Air Transport Association, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
