Government should ‘immediately’ make statement on whether Kremlin is behind cyber attack, Lib Dems say
The Government needs to immediately make a statement on whether Russian involvement is suspected in an alleged cyber attack on an airport check-in provider, the Liberal Democrats have said.
Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller said: “After the flagrant violation of Estonian airspace, the Government needs to urgently establish if Vladimir Putin is now attacking our cyber systems.
“If the Kremlin is behind this attack, causing chaos at our busiest airport, we need to be firm in our response.”
Bryony Gooch21 September 2025 07:00
Security chiefs ‘working with’ Collins Aerospace
UK security chiefs are “working with” Collins Aerospace and affected airports following today’s cyber attack.
A National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) spokesperson said: “We are working with Collins Aerospace and affected UK airports, alongside Department for Transport and law enforcement colleagues, to fully understand the impact of an incident.
“All organisations are urged to make use of the NCSC’s free guidance, services and tools to help reduce the chances of a cyber attack and bolster their resilience in the face of online threats.”
Bryony Gooch21 September 2025 06:00
Collins Aerospace ‘cyber attack’ latest in series of incidents at UK airports
The incident is the latest in a series that have affected UK airports since the start of the year.
Thousands of passengers trying to fly both in and out of the country faced major disruption on Wednesday July 30 after air traffic control (ATC) provider Nats was hit by a technical glitch.
More than 150 flights – 84 departures and 71 arrivals – were cancelled in airports across the UK, with the highest number of cancellations at London’s Heathrow Airport.
A number of inbound flights were also diverted to European cities as a result of the glitch, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Passengers at Stansted Airport also faced long delays and disruption on Sunday May 11 after an IT glitch caused some of the airport’s systems to fail.
The malfunction affected check-in, baggage, and security, with engineers investigating the source of the IT problem saying it may have been related to the systems’ internet access.
On Friday March 21, more than 270,000 air passenger journeys were disrupted by Heathrow airport’s closure following a fire at a nearby electrical substation.
Some 234,000 passengers booked to fly to or from Heathrow that day had their flight cancelled, diverted or delayed when the airport suffered a power outage because of a blaze at the substation in Hayes, aviation industry statistics seen by the PA news agency have showed.
No flights were permitted at the airport on that day until around 6pm.
A further 36,500 people hoping to travel the following day were affected when 74 flights, 6.1% of the total scheduled, were cancelled.
Bryony Gooch21 September 2025 05:00
Airlines ‘furious’ after cyber attack hits flights across Europe
Airlines ‘furious’ after cyber attack hits flights across Europe
Flights have been delayed and cancelled at several European airports after a cyber attack targeting check-in and boarding systems provided by Collins Aerospace. The attack has rendered automated systems inoperable, allowing only manual check-in and boarding procedures, according to Brussels Airport. London Heathrow and Berlin airport also said the attack was disrupting its flights, with passengers advised to confirm their travel with airlines before heading to the airport on Saturday.
Bryony Gooch21 September 2025 04:00
Recap: European Commission ‘closely monitoring’ cyber attack
The European Commission has said it is “closely monitoring” a cyber attack that caused major disruption at several international airports across Europe – including Heathrow.
Berlin and Brussels airports are also affected by the attack which targeted a technical partner, Collins Aerospace.
“The Commission is closely monitoring the cyber attack that has disrupted airline check-in and boarding systems for several airlines across multiple airports globally,” a spokesperson for the European Commission, which takes part in managing airspace across Europe, said on Saturday.
“While passengers are facing disruption, aviation safety and air traffic control remain unaffected.
“The Commission is working closely with EUROCONTROL, ENISA, airports and airlines to restore operations and to support passengers.
“Current signs do not indicate a widespread or severe attack.”
Bryony Gooch21 September 2025 03:00
Airports’ cyber attack: What rights do you have to compensation for cancelled flights?
Airports’ cyber attack: What rights do you have over cancelled flights?
Here are the obligations each airline has, and what you can expect if you experience delays
Bryony Gooch21 September 2025 02:00
Watch: Heathrow warns of delays after cyber attack cancels flights at European airports
Bryony Gooch21 September 2025 01:00
Over 600 flights from Heathrow disrupted by cyber attack
More than 600 flights from Heathrow have been disrupted by a cyber attack, according to flight tracking data.
FlightRadar have recorded 629 disrupted flights today after a cyber attack on Collins Aerospace led to delays across Europe.
Bryony Gooch21 September 2025 00:00
Collins Aerospace ‘cyber attack’ latest in series of incidents at UK airports
The incident is the latest in a series that have affected UK airports since the start of the year.
Thousands of passengers trying to fly both in and out of the country faced major disruption on Wednesday July 30 after air traffic control (ATC) provider Nats was hit by a technical glitch.
More than 150 flights – 84 departures and 71 arrivals – were cancelled in airports across the UK, with the highest number of cancellations at London’s Heathrow Airport.
A number of inbound flights were also diverted to European cities as a result of the glitch, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Passengers at Stansted Airport also faced long delays and disruption on Sunday May 11 after an IT glitch caused some of the airport’s systems to fail.
The malfunction affected check-in, baggage, and security, with engineers investigating the source of the IT problem saying it may have been related to the systems’ internet access.
On Friday March 21, more than 270,000 air passenger journeys were disrupted by Heathrow airport’s closure following a fire at a nearby electrical substation.
Some 234,000 passengers booked to fly to or from Heathrow that day had their flight cancelled, diverted or delayed when the airport suffered a power outage because of a blaze at the substation in Hayes, aviation industry statistics seen by the PA news agency have showed.
No flights were permitted at the airport on that day until around 6pm.
A further 36,500 people hoping to travel the following day were affected when 74 flights, 6.1% of the total scheduled, were cancelled.
Bryony Gooch20 September 2025 23:00
Passenger says she ‘broke down in tears’ at Heathrow
Helen Steel, 49, who was trying to fly home with KLM to Oslo via Amsterdam with a cat named Thomas, told the PA news agency she “broke down in tears” after being shouted at by staff at Heathrow Airport amid long queues.
Speaking at a crowded Terminal 4, Ms Steel said: “I started travelling this morning at 3am from Dorset, and they knew about the cyber attack yesterday and didn’t tell us.
“If they just told us that there was a cyber attack, I wouldn’t have travelled up here.
“I’ve got an animal here, so I’m very concerned about his welfare.
“I’ve been shouted at twice and I broke down in tears because I was worried about him.
“None of us have had any information whatsoever. Whenever we ask ground staff, they shout at us.
“They tell us to call customer service – I’ve spent about two hours in a queue on the telephone. I then finally got through to somebody and they put the phone down on me.
“It’s another three hours to get back home and then come back up again if they find a new flight, so now I must go look for a hotel, but I’m still stuck in this queue.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane20 September 2025 22:00
