Man arrested in connection with airport cyber-attacks

• A man in his forties was arrested in West Sussex in connection with a cyber-attack on Collins Aerospace, which caused disruption at several European airports, including Heathrow.
• The arrest was made by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of an ongoing investigation into the cyber incident.
• The cyber-attack led to significant flight delays due to the failure of Collins Aerospace’s baggage and check-in software, forcing some airlines to use manual methods.
• The arrested man was released on bail after being detained on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences.
• Collins Aerospace is rebuilding its check-in software system after a failed attempt to relaunch it on Monday.
• The US company’s parent, RTX Corporation, has expressed appreciation for the NCA’s assistance in the matter.
• Heathrow Airport has deployed extra staff to assist passengers, but flights continue to experience delays.
• The EU’s cyber-security agency confirmed that ransomware was used in the attack, which is a common tactic to disrupt systems and demand ransom payments in cryptocurrency.
• The cyber-attack was discovered on Friday night, causing ongoing disruptions at airports in Brussels, Dublin, and Berlin, with some effects persisting into the following week.
• Cyber-attacks in the aviation sector have surged by 600% over the past year, highlighting the growing threat of organized cyber-crime gangs.