The Port of Seattle experienced an ongoing cyberattack over the weekend, affecting operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The attack was detected on Saturday morning, with unauthorized activity on the system causing disruptions. The Port is working with external experts to investigate the cause of the outage and is working urgently to bring necessary systems back online and minimize impacts on passengers. As a result of the cyberattack, flight information displays, baggage services, and screens showing flight information at the airport were impacted.
The outage caused significant disruptions at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, leading to long check-in lines and canceled flights. The Transportation Security Administration confirmed that security checkpoints were unaffected, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported no impact on its systems. Despite the cyberattack, Alaska Airlines stated that its systems were not directly impacted, advising passengers to avoid checking bags if possible. The airport website, as well as the mobile app FlySEA, were both down as a result of the attack.
The cyberattack on the Port of Seattle comes just a month after a global IT disruption caused by a flawed update from cybersecurity software company CrowdStrike. This incident led to disruptions at Sea-Tac Airport and other airports across the country. The Port’s Maritime Facilities phone systems were also affected, along with email and phone services for Port staff. As the investigation continues, the Port is uncertain when the situation will be fully resolved, continuing to work around the clock to address the impact on passengers and operations.
The cyberattack at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport highlights the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure to cyber threats. The outage impacted various airport services, including flight information displays, baggage services, and screen systems within the terminal. Passengers experienced delays and cancellations, with some being checked in manually from printed lists. Despite the disruptions, security checkpoints and customs systems continued to operate normally, ensuring the safety and security of passengers.
As the investigation into the cyberattack continues, the Port of Seattle is focused on restoring systems and mitigating the impact on passengers. The outage poses challenges for travelers, airlines, and airport staff, underscoring the importance of cybersecurity measures in protecting critical infrastructure. The coordination with external experts and government agencies is crucial in identifying the source of the cyberattack and implementing solutions to prevent future incidents. The Port’s response to the cyberattack will serve as a case study for enhancing cybersecurity protocols in critical transportation hubs nationwide.
