Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) appears to have been the victim of a cyberattack, according to the Port of Seattle, as widespread internet outages impacted critical systems for the third day in a row.
The outages began early Saturday and brought down several systems. The full extent of the outage has not yet been announced, but according to The Seattle Times.
“Early (Saturday) morning, the Port of Seattle experienced certain system outages that indicate a possible cyberattack,” the airport said in a social media post on Saturday.
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However, on Sunday, airport officials confirmed that they believe a cyberattack occurred and that the ongoing disruptions are forcing airport officials to hastily restore operations without compromising the impact on travelers.
Newsweek reached out to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport officials via email on Monday seeking comment.
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Lance Lyttle, managing director of the airport’s aviation division, addressed the situation at a press conference on Sunday and assured the public that efforts are being made to get the systems back online, adding that TSA passenger screening processes will not be affected.
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“We are working around the clock to bring the necessary systems back online and mitigate the impact on our passengers,” Lyttle said.
In addition, the airport is working with federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as well as outside cybersecurity experts, to investigate the incident.
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In a social media update, Sea-Tac officials confirmed the progress made but noted that there is no estimated timeline for a full return to normal operations.
“Port teams continue to make progress in restoring systems to normal operation, but there is no estimated time for restoration,” the airport said on Facebook.
Despite the ongoing disruptions, major airlines that fly to Sea-Tac Airport, such as Delta and Alaska Airlines, reported no significant service disruptions, according to the Associated Press (AP).
“Alaska’s systems are not affected, so we were able to maintain our full flight schedule to and from Seattle this weekend,” an Alaska Airlines spokesperson said in an email to The Seattle Times.
In addition, according to Tthe Seattle TimesPort spokesman Chris Guizlo said any problems depend on the airline in question, but “overall, our operations are running smoothly.”
However, the Port of Seattle’s baggage sorting system was affected, prompting airlines to advise passengers not to check their luggage to avoid delays.
Travelers are also advised to allow more time at the airport, use mobile applications for check-in and be prepared for longer than usual queues at security checks and baggage claim.
The outage also left information screens in the terminal inoperable, making gate assignment difficult for some passengers, AP reported.
