UK Police Arrest Suspect Over Cyberattack Disrupting European Airports

British police have arrested a man in his 40s following a cyberattack that disrupted operations at major European airports, including Brussels, Berlin, and London’s Heathrow.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed on Wednesday that the suspect was detained late Tuesday in West Sussex on suspicion of violating the Computer Misuse Act. He has since been released on conditional bail.

“Although this arrest is a positive step, the investigation into this incident is in its early stages and remains ongoing,” said NCA Deputy Director Paul Foster. “Cybercrime is a persistent global threat that continues to cause significant disruption to the UK.”

The investigation began after a “cyber incident impacting Collins Aerospace” was reported last Friday. Collins Aerospace provides check-in and baggage drop systems for several airlines worldwide.

The EU’s cybersecurity agency confirmed the disruption stemmed from a “third-party ransomware incident.”

The attack, which peaked on Saturday, caused widespread flight delays and cancellations as airlines resorted to manual check-in and baggage procedures. Some airports continued to experience limited disruptions as of Wednesday.

Collins Aerospace acknowledged on Saturday that its MUSE software had suffered a “cyber-related disruption” at certain airports, though it emphasized the issue was confined to electronic check-in and baggage systems.

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