Suspected cyberattack hits Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport in US
The Port of Seattle, which also operates the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), has reported a "possible cyberattack." The suspected breach was first announced on Saturday morning via X, with the airport subsequently confirming that it had "experienced certain system outages indicating a possible cyberattack." The attack primarily impacted websites and phone systems, causing significant disruptions.
Ongoing outages and recovery efforts
As of late Saturday evening, Sea-Tac Airport was still grappling with system outages. The airport stated, "There is not an estimated time for return and Port teams continue to work to restore full service." To mitigate the impact on travelers, the airport advised them to use airline apps for boarding passes and bag tags, and to allow extra time to reach their gates.
Port of Seattle's website remains largely offline
By Sunday morning Pacific time, the Port of Seattle's public-facing web infrastructure, including its website, was still largely offline. This information was confirmed by a TechCrunch review of the port's DNS records. The extent of the cyberattack and its potential implications are currently under investigation.
TSA confirms no impact on security operations
Despite the cyberattack and resulting system outages, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has confirmed that there has been no impact on security operations at the airport. This assurance comes amid ongoing efforts to fully restore all affected systems and services. Earlier this year, the Joe Biden administration issued an executive order to enhance cybersecurity at ports. The latest issue comes just weeks after a CrowdStrike software update triggered global IT meltdown, leading to flight cancellations and delays.
