UK NCA Detains Man Over European Airport Cyberattack

(MENAFN) A man has been detained in the UK by the National Crime Agency (NCA) amid an ongoing investigation into last week’s cyberattack that disrupted airline operations and caused widespread delays across key European airports, the agency announced Wednesday.

The probe centers on the September 19 incident, which impacted flights at Heathrow Airport and other major European hubs over the weekend.

"NCA officers, supported by the South East (Regional Organised Crime Unit) ROCU, arrested a man in his forties in West Sussex yesterday evening on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences," the NCA stated in its release.

The suspect has since been granted conditional bail as the inquiry remains in its initial phases, according to Paul Foster, head of the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit.

"Cybercrime is a persistent global threat that continues to cause significant disruption to the UK," Foster emphasized.

The cyberattack, identified by the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) on Monday as a "ransomware attack," targeted Collins Aerospace, the provider of check-in systems used by airlines worldwide.

London Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels airports were among those reporting flight delays and cancellations following the ransomware incident over the weekend.

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