Seattle airport faced major outages after a possible cyberattack

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA-TAC) has been grappling with a significant disruption following a suspected cyberattack that struck its IT systems. The incident has led to widespread interruptions in the airport’s reservation and check-in processes, resulting in extensive delays and inconvenience for passengers.

The most active airport in the Pacific Northwest and Seattle’s main international airport, SEA-TAC, is essential to both domestic and international travel. It carried around 51 million passengers in 2023, acting as a significant hub for Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines, with connections to 28 foreign and 91 domestic locations.

 

The outage at the Seattle airport is believed to be due to a possible cyberattack, leaving travellers dependent on airline apps.

 

The Port of Seattle disclosed on August 24 that both the port and SEA-TAC were experiencing an ongoing outage due to what they termed a “possible cyberattack.” This situation has required the isolation of critical systems to manage and contain the damage. The airport’s website has been offline, leaving travellers dependent on airline apps and websites for crucial information.

In a public update on X, the Port of Seattle advised travellers to check in online and secure boarding passes before heading to the airport. They also recommended using carry-on luggage to avoid complications with checked bags. With flight information displayed out of service, passengers were urged to confirm gate details with their airlines and allow extra time to navigate the airport.

As of the latest reports, Alaska Airlines has announced severe limitations in its baggage sorting capabilities at SEA-TAC. The airline is advising travellers to minimise checked luggage and to label any checked bags with their full contact details to facilitate tracking in the event of issues.

The FBI is investigating the cyberattack but has not provided additional details or identified any responsible parties. The incident remains under review, and no specific ransomware groups or cybercriminal organisations have claimed responsibility as of yet.

The Port of Seattle has not provided an estimated timeframe for the return of regular operations, but it is still working to restore complete functionality to its systems. It is advised that passengers monitor developments through their airline and remain patient.