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Could a Ransomware Attack on One Company Cancel Your Next Flight?
On a Friday evening in September 2025, a problem started that would ruin the weekend for thousands of travelers. A company called Collins Aerospace, which provides important technology for airports, was hit by a cyberattack. This attack was a specific kind called ransomware, where criminals lock up computer systems and demand money to release them. Because this one company’s systems went down, check-in desks at major airports across Europe and other parts of the world stopped working. This single event led to a cascade of canceled flights and left passengers stranded.
The IT problems continued for days, highlighting a serious weakness in the technology that keeps air travel moving. Police later made an arrest, and experts figured out the type of ransomware used. This incident serves as a powerful story about how interconnected and fragile our modern systems can be. It shows what can go wrong when essential services depend on aging technology and complex corporate structures.
A Weekend of Airport Chaos
The trouble became obvious to the public early on Saturday morning, September 20, 2025. News reports started to spread like wildfire. Flights at some of Europe’s busiest airports were being canceled. The reason given was a “computer problem at check-in.” The high-tech systems that airports rely on to process passengers were completely offline. Airport staff had to resort to using paper and pencils to check people in manually. This slow, old-fashioned process could not handle the thousands of passengers scheduled to fly.
The result was chaos. Airports in major cities like Berlin, Brussels, and London’s Heathrow were heavily affected. Departure terminals filled with confused and frustrated passengers. People were stuck, with no clear information on when or if they would be able to travel. The problem wasn’t limited to just these major hubs. Many smaller airports that used the same technology were also hit. Reports mentioned that airports in Münster and Cologne/Bonn in Germany also faced disruptions. It was a widespread failure that touched many corners of the travel network.
At first, the cause was described as a simple technical malfunction. But it soon became clear that the situation was far more serious. The common link between all the affected airports was their reliance on a single service provider: Collins Aerospace. The “computer problem” was actually a targeted cyberattack. Specifically, it was a ransomware attack that had paralyzed the company’s check-in services, which many airlines had outsourced to them completely. This meant that any airline or airport using the Collins system was suddenly unable to operate normally.
The Company Behind the Systems
To understand why this attack was so damaging, we need to look at the company at the center of it. Collins Aerospace is a large American company that makes technology for airplanes and defense. It is owned by an even bigger corporation called RTX Corp., which used to be known as Raytheon Technologies. Interestingly, the parent company, Raytheon, is also involved in the cybersecurity business.
The part of Collins Aerospace that was attacked has a long and complicated history. The systems that failed were originally part of a company called ARINC, which stands for Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated. ARINC was founded way back in 1929. Over the years, it was bought and sold by different companies, eventually ending up as part of Collins Aerospace in 2018. This history of buying up older companies is important. It means that while the company name is modern, some of the technology running behind the scenes can be very old.
The specific system that failed is called ARINC vMUSE. The “MUSE” stands for Multi-User System Environment. Think of it as the brain that connects check-in kiosks to the airlines.
- Passengers walk up to a self-service machine at the airport to check in.
- These machines, known as SelfServ vMUSE devices, let you print your boarding pass and luggage tags.
- The machines connect to a network managed by Collins Aerospace.
- Your data, like your name, flight details, and baggage information, is sent to the vMUSE system.
- This system then shares the information with the correct airline so you can get on your flight.
This system is used at airports all over the world. The problem is that when many different airlines all rely on this one single system, a failure in that system creates a single point of failure for everyone. That is exactly what happened.
A Closer Look at the Technology
The details that emerged after the attack paint a troubling picture of the company’s IT security. Investigators and security experts started looking into how Collins Aerospace and its ARINC division were set up. What they found suggests a pattern of using outdated and insecure technology.
One expert, Kevin Beaumont, did some public checks on the company’s computer systems. He noticed that the company’s login page for its webmail did not use encryption. This means that when employees entered their username and password, the information was sent over the internet in plain text, like a postcard that anyone could read. This is a very basic security mistake.
What was even more concerning was the software running the email system. It was an Oracle GlassFish Server from 2016. The current version of this software in 2025 is much newer. Using software that is nearly a decade old is extremely risky. Old software stops receiving security updates, and over time, hackers discover weaknesses, or “vulnerabilities,” in it. These vulnerabilities become public knowledge, essentially providing a roadmap for criminals to break in. In fact, public records from 2014 confirmed that this exact version of the software had several known security flaws.
While this outdated email system was not confirmed to be the “smoking gun” or the exact entry point for the attack, it showed a lack of attention to basic security hygiene. It suggests a culture where updating and securing systems was not a top priority. This is a red flag for any organization, but it is especially dangerous for a company that handles sensitive passenger data and provides critical services for global travel. The investigation also revealed that the attackers might have used a vulnerability in the company’s VPN access, which is a common way for ransomware groups to get inside a network.
The Attack and the Aftermath
The cyberattack was officially confirmed to be ransomware by Enisa, the European Union’s cybersecurity agency. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts a victim’s files, making them inaccessible. The attackers then demand a ransom payment, usually in cryptocurrency, in exchange for the decryption key.
The specific ransomware used in the attack was identified as a variant of Hardbit. This detail is important because different ransomware groups use different tactics. Understanding the type of ransomware helps experts understand how the attackers got in and how to remove them.
The situation inside Collins Aerospace was dire. According to reports, the company tried to recover from the attack by restoring its systems from backups. This is a standard procedure. However, the attempt failed badly. The attackers had not been fully removed from the network. They still had a hidden backdoor. When the company brought the restored systems back online, the attackers re-entered and caused even more damage. This indicates that the company was in a very difficult position. They were fighting an enemy that was already inside their walls and they couldn’t find the way they were getting in.
This failure to clean the network meant the disruption to airport services dragged on for days. Even four days after the initial attack, the check-in systems were not fully operational. This prolonged outage highlights how difficult it is to recover from a sophisticated cyberattack. It is not as simple as flipping a switch.
A major concern is what happened to the passenger data stored in the ARINC vMUSE system. This database contains millions of records, including names, travel itineraries, and potentially even biometric information. A database like this is a goldmine for criminals. It is still not clear whether the attackers were able to steal this data before they encrypted the systems. If they did, the impact of this incident could be far greater than just canceled flights.
An Arrest Is Made
In the days following the attack, law enforcement agencies launched an investigation. On September 24, 2025, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) announced a significant development. They had arrested a man in his forties in West Sussex, England. The arrest was made as part of the investigation into the cyber incident affecting Collins Aerospace. While an arrest is a positive step, the investigation is often long and complex. It is one piece of a much larger puzzle to understand who was behind the attack and bring them to justice. Cybercriminal groups are often based in different countries, making international cooperation essential.
Key Lessons from This Incident
This security failure at Collins Aerospace is more than just a story about a technology problem. It is a warning about the risks built into the essential systems we rely on every day. There are several important lessons we can learn from this event.
First, it highlights the danger of aging infrastructure. The systems running our airports, power grids, and financial institutions are often a mix of new and very old technology. The ARINC system, with its roots in a company founded almost a century ago and running on software from 2016, is a perfect example. Companies grow by buying other companies, but they do not always invest the money to modernize the old systems they acquire. This creates hidden risks that can lead to catastrophic failures. Security is not a one-time fix; it requires constant attention and investment to keep systems updated and protected against new threats.
Second, the incident shows the problem with over-reliance on a single provider for a critical service. Many airlines chose to outsource their check-in process to Collins Aerospace. This may have been efficient and cost-effective, but it created a massive single point of failure. When the ARINC vMUSE system went down, it did not just affect one airline; it affected every airline that depended on it. This is a lesson in risk management. Critical functions should have backups and alternative options. Relying on one single bridge to get across a river is fine until that bridge collapses.
Finally, this event forces us to ask tough questions about oversight and regulation. Air travel is considered critical infrastructure. It is essential for the economy and for society to function. Should a private company, assembled from pieces of older companies with outdated technology, be entrusted with such a central role without strict supervision? Government bodies and industry regulators need to ensure that the companies providing these essential services meet the highest security standards. We are eager to embrace “digitalization” and make everything faster and more convenient, but this incident shows that we must prioritize security and resilience. Pushing forward with technology without making sure it is safe is a recipe for disaster. The chaos at airports was not just an inconvenience; it was a clear signal that the foundations of our digital world may not be as strong as we believe.