Seattle-Tacoma International Airport faces delays amid possible cyberattack 

A potential cyberattack led to significant disruptions at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on Saturday, resulting in widespread delays and a temporary halt to certain systems. The incident, described by the Port of Seattle as an “internet and web systems outage,” began in the morning and is suspected to have originated from a cyberattack. 

In a statement, airport authorities confirmed that the outages had caused the Port of Seattle to isolate critical systems as a precaution while efforts were made to restore full services. By 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, 247 flights were reported delayed, and six were canceled, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. 

The airport has yet to provide a timeline for when normal operations will resume but is actively working with relevant authorities and partners to mitigate the impact on travelers. Passengers are urged to check with airlines for the latest updates and allow extra time to navigate the airport. SEA advised travelers to use mobile boarding passes and airline apps to check baggage and expedite their journeys. 

“The Port of Seattle experienced certain system outages indicating a possible cyberattack,” authorities stated. “We are working closely with appropriate authorities and partners to help travelers who may be impacted.” 

As of Sunday morning, the Port of Seattle’s public web infrastructure, including its main website, was largely offline, corroborated by a TechCrunch analysis of its DNS records. However, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed no impact on airport security operations. 

This incident follows less than a month after a global IT crisis triggered by a CrowdStrike software update, which led to multiple flight cancellations and delays worldwide. The recent attack at SEA has renewed concerns about cybersecurity at critical infrastructure points, especially in light of a recent executive order from the Biden Administration to bolster cybersecurity measures at ports across the United States. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has refrained from commenting on the incident and has directed inquiries to SEA officials. The Port of Seattle, which operates SEA, has not provided further details but continues to monitor the situation as it works to restore all affected services. Travelers are advised to stay informed through airline communication channels and SEA’s official updates as the situation develops.