by Skycop team
Sometimes a timetable falls apart not because of an airline, but because of infrastructure: power failures, cyberattacks on IT vendors, security incidents like drones, gas leaks, or failures of airport/ATC equipment. This affects thousands of travelers at once and is usually treated as extraordinary circumstances under EC 261.
These incidents raise the risk of missed connections, ruined plans, delayed baggage, or unexpected hotel costs. Over the past year Europe has faced three headline threats – drones, blackouts, and cyberattacks. A local problem can quickly trigger a chain of airport disruptions across the network.
Was Your Flight Disrupted? Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
Wave of drone incidents – late Sept / early Oct 2025
Several airports in Northern and Central Europe reported drone sightings near runways and perimeter zones. Temporary ground stops were imposed, with ramp checks and patrols intensified.
Rolling delays and targeted cancellations followed, with airlines reshuffling slots. Regulators accelerated rules for counter-drone measures around airports, and hubs began deploying more robust detection and neutralization tools.
Iberian blackout – 28 April 2025
A major power blackout affected Spain and Portugal (and some adjacent regions). Metro systems paused in major cities, and Madrid/Barajas and Lisbon airports reported delays and partial closures of specific areas until power was restored.
Aviation saw a classic domino effect: schedule changes, cancellations, and a switch to contingency procedures, putting extra pressure on airport operations. Operators later announced steps to strengthen resilience.
Cyberattack on an airport-systems provider 20-22 Sept 2025
A hit on an airport software supplier crippled parts of check-in and boarding. Brussels, Berlin and Heathrow switched to manual processing, triggering queues and schedule creep.
Some airports trimmed schedules for the following day; others rebooked part of the flights. Recovery was phased as fixes rolled out. Experts highlighted the fragility of centralized IT services and the need for strong fallbacks.
Passenger rights when the cause is “airport/infrastructure”
Under EC 261, you keep the right to care and assistance from your airline even if the cause lies outside the carrier’s control:
- From 2 hours of delay: meals and drinks, plus two free communications (calls/e-mail/fax).
- If an overnight wait is required: hotel accommodation and transport between airport and hotel.
- If assistance wasn’t provided, keep your receipts – reasonable expenses can be reimbursed.
Compensation claims under EC 261 are generally not payable when the event qualifies as extraordinary circumstances (e.g., blackout, cyberattack, drone interference, ATC system failure). Still, knowing your passenger rights helps you claim care, refunds, or rerouting where applicable.
Day-of-travel checklist
- Document the cause: photos/screens of flight boards and airline messages.
- Ask for care and assistance from the carrier (food, water, communications; hotel/transfer if overnight).
- Keep receipts for reasonable out-of-pocket costs.
- Track status in the airport/airline app – during IT incidents expect manual processing and queues.
- Plan B: if delays extend, request rebooking or a refund in writing.
Was Your Flight Disrupted? Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
Need help with a claim?
As noted, airlines typically aren’t obliged to pay compensation when there are reasonable grounds and the event is an extraordinary circumstance. Not sure it applies to your case? Contact Skycop – we’ll check the details and advise whether a claim is possible.
