Police in the United Kingdom have arrested a man in his 40s in connection with a cyberattack that disrupted airport operations in several European cities, including Brussels, Berlin, and London Heathrow.
The suspect was detained late Tuesday in West Sussex on suspicion of breaching the Computer Misuse Act. He has since been released on conditional bail while investigations continue.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed that the case began after a cyber incident was reported on Friday involving Collins Aerospace, a company that provides check-in and baggage handling software for airlines worldwide. The disruption, linked to a third-party ransomware attack, caused technical failures across multiple airports, forcing airlines to switch to manual check-in and baggage drop procedures.
The problems led to flight delays and cancellations, particularly over the weekend, as passengers faced long queues due to the slower processes. Collins Aerospace said the disruption affected its MUSE software in selected airports, impacting only electronic check-in and baggage services.
Although services have gradually resumed, some airports across Europe were still facing limited disruptions as of Wednesday. The NCA said its investigation is still ongoing, with cybercrime continuing to pose a challenge to aviation systems and airport operations.