Airport cyberattack suspect arrested in UK

Significant disruption occurred at major airports in London, Berlin, and Brussels following a cyberattack that hit electronic check-in systems

A suspect has been apprehended by British police in connection with the cyberattack that led to widespread disruption at several of Europe’s busiest airports this past weekend.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) reported that a man in his 40s was taken into custody in West Sussex on suspicion of computer misuse offenses, subsequently being granted conditional bail. The individual’s identity remains undisclosed.

“While this apprehension marks progress, the inquiry into this event is in its preliminary phases and is still proceeding,” stated Paul Foster, who heads the NCA’s national cybercrime unit, as reported by AP. He further characterized cybercrime as a “relentless worldwide menace.”

Though no group has claimed responsibility, indications suggest ransomware could have been a factor in the assault on airport check-in systems. “From the information available, it appears more akin to vandalism than extortion,” James Davenport, a professor of information technology at the University of Bath, informed AP.

Beginning Friday evening and lasting throughout the weekend, airports in Berlin, Brussels, and London encountered significant disturbances to their electronic infrastructure, resulting in extensive check-in delays. The attack focused on Collins Aerospace software, responsible for passenger processing systems like check-in, boarding passes, and baggage management. Airline personnel were compelled to revert to manual procedures, such as manually writing boarding passes and employing reserve laptops to facilitate passenger flow.