An apparent cyberattack has caused disruptions to various systems at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for the third consecutive day. Port of Seattle officials are diligently investigating the outages to restore full service at the airport. Aviation managing director Lance Lyttle informed during a press conference on Sunday that efforts are ongoing to bring back necessary systems online while lessening the impact on passengers.
The airport is collaborating with external experts and federal partners, such as the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection, to determine the extent of the outage. Although details about the outage are not disclosed, Lyttle mentioned that the TSA’s passenger screening abilities have not been affected.
While airlines like Delta and Alaska Airlines, which use Sea-Tac as a hub, reported no service interruptions, the outage did affect the Port of Seattle’s baggage sorting and lost and found systems. Passengers were advised to avoid checking bags if possible to prevent potential delays and to use airline mobile applications for boarding passes and bag tags.
Despite these measures, numerous travelers at the airport experienced longer-than-usual security lines, extended waits at baggage claims, and difficulties in locating assigned gates without functioning terminal screens. Airport staff in green were designated to assist passengers, as announced in a Facebook post.
One impacted traveler, Thai Un, described chaotic scenes at the airport with flight information screens out of service. Un and his family encountered delays and confusion while dropping off checked bags and navigating through the airport. Even after landing in Maui, missing luggage added to the stress of the disrupted travel experience.
Although some passengers, including Un, eventually received their missing bags, the overall travel disruption highlighted the importance of backup processes for airlines and airports. The airport’s Facebook update noted that progress was being made by port teams, but there was no estimated timeline for the restoration of normal operations.
