The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport continues to face an apparent cyberattack that has disrupted internet, phones, email, and various other systems for the third consecutive day. Port of Seattle officials are actively investigating the outages and striving to restore full service amidst the ongoing disruption.
“We’re working around the clock to get necessary systems back online and to mitigate impacts to our passengers,” expressed Lance Lyttle, the airport’s aviation managing director, during a press conference on Sunday. The severity of the cyberattack has led to a comprehensive investigation in collaboration with external experts, and close coordination with federal partners, such as the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection. Despite the chaos, the TSA’s passenger screening capabilities remain unaffected.
While some airlines, like Delta and Alaska Airlines, have reported no service interruptions due to the outage, concerns arose over the impact on the Port of Seattle’s baggage sorting system. Consequently, airlines advised passengers to refrain from checking bags if possible to avoid potential delays in travel plans.
As a precautionary measure, travellers have been advised to allocate extra time at the airport and utilize airline mobile applications for boarding passes and bag tags whenever feasible. However, the cyberattack has resulted in longer-than-usual security lines, extended waiting times at baggage claims, and challenges in accessing gate information through terminal screens that remain non-functional across the airport.
Despite continuous efforts by the Port teams to restore operations to normalcy, there is no definitive timeline for the complete resolution of the cyberattack-induced disruptions. The airport continues to provide updates on its progress via social media platforms, acknowledging the inconvenience faced by passengers and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the restoration of services.
