Cyberattack disrupts airports across Europe, check-in and boarding systems hit

Brussels/London: Air travel across Europe faced widespread disruption on Friday after a major cyberattack targeted the IT service provider responsible for airline check-in and boarding systems, causing delays at several airports.

Thousands of passengers were left stranded as airports from Paris to Frankfurt and Madrid reported long queues and flight cancellations. Aviation authorities confirmed that the attack crippled the central system used by multiple airlines to process passenger data.

Airlines said they were working with cybersecurity teams to restore services, while some airports temporarily shifted to manual check-in procedures. European Union aviation regulators have launched an investigation, warning that the incident highlights the growing threat of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.