London, UK — A man in his 40s has been arrested in the UK following a cyber-attack that caused major disruption at Heathrow Airport and several key European hubs, including Brussels, Berlin, and Dublin.
The suspect was detained in West Sussex by the National Crime Agency (NCA) alongside the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit. He was arrested under the Computer Misuse Act and later released on conditional bail while investigations continue.
The Impact of the Attack
The cyber-attack struck Collins Aerospace systems, software widely used by airlines to issue boarding passes, manage check-in, and process baggage.
- At Heathrow, more than 20 flights were cancelled, with many others delayed.
- Airports in Berlin and Brussels were among the worst affected, with cascading knock-on delays across Europe.
- Airlines were forced to fall back on manual processes, including handwritten boarding passes and in-person checks.
- The European Commission confirmed that aviation safety and air traffic control systems were not compromised, reassuring passengers that critical safety operations remained intact.
The Ongoing Investigation
NCA Deputy Director Paul Foster called the arrest a “positive step,” but stressed that enquiries are still at an early stage. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the man acted alone or as part of a wider network.
The investigation remains active, with both UK and European agencies continuing to trace the origins and methods of the cyber-attack.
What This Means for Travellers
The disruption highlights the vulnerability of airport IT systems and their reliance on shared technology providers. For passengers, it serves as a reminder that delays and cancellations can occur suddenly, even when aircraft and crews are ready to operate.
For the UK aviation industry, the case raises fresh concerns over cybersecurity resilience and the growing risk of attacks on infrastructure critical to air travel.
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