A cyberattack has caused an outage impacting operations at Sea-Tac Airport and other Port-affiliated entities for more than two days. Port officials have not disclosed details of the attack or provided an estimate for when systems will be restored. The outage is affecting in-airport WiFi, baggage services, manual bag tags from airlines, and information screens displaying flight details and security line wait times. While cruise travel remains unaffected, the Port’s Maritime Facilities phone systems, email and phone services for staff, and the Port of Seattle website are also down.
The Port first reported the outage on a Saturday morning as an internet and web systems outage and later stated it might be the result of a cyberattack. The individuals behind the attack and the means by which they accessed the Port’s technical infrastructure remain unknown. TSA and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that their systems were not impacted by the outage, as they operate on separate networks. Passengers are advised to carry on luggage and arrive early at Sea-Tac Airport, especially if flying with certain carriers that rely on the Port’s technical infrastructure.
The outage is causing disruptions to various airport systems, including baggage conveyor belts, the lost and found center, the SEA Visitor Pass Program, and the car parking system. TSA ensures all passengers are verified through its secure system and issued boarding passes. Officials have not provided details on the severity of the incident or given a timeline for resolution, but they are working with the FBI and other partners to investigate the cyberattack. Last month, an IT disruption at Sea-Tac Airport and other airports nationwide was caused by a flawed update from CrowdStrike, whereas the current outage is the result of a cyberattack.
There is growing concern about cyber threats to ports and other critical infrastructure, as they are often targeted by criminal enterprises and nation-states seeking valuable data for profit. The Biden Administration issued an executive order in February to enhance the security of maritime critical infrastructure. The Port continues to update the public through its official webpage and social media channels. Additionally, phone numbers have been provided for urgent maritime-related matters, including recreational boating, activities at Fishermen’s Terminal, Bell Harbor, and Marine Maintenance, as well as Terminal 91 operations. The investigation into the cyberattack on the Port of Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport is ongoing, with updates being provided as they become available.
