Aviation Cybersecurity: Securing the Skies in an Era of Sophisticated Threats

Several major European airports, including London’s Heathrow, were subjected to a cyber-attack this summer. The breach disrupted check-in and boarding operations from vendor Rockwell Aerospace. 

Like other transportation sectors, aviation is increasingly targeted by sophisticated cyber threats. The aviation sector has always been about trust and safety. When we step onto a plane or move through an airport, we expect a seamless and secure experience. What is changing rapidly is the digital backbone that enables aviation, from ticketing and baggage systems to air traffic control to the increasingly connected aircraft themselves. That connectivity brings significant efficiency gains but also introduces a growing cyber risk that cannot be ignored.

The Challenges Increase

Over the past year, we’ve seen the aviation threat landscape escalate. High-profile breaches at airlines and vendors have exposed millions of passenger records. Ransomware groups and cybercriminal gangs have pivoted to targeting airline helpdesks and support centers, exploiting social engineering and MFA bypass techniques to gain entry. Perhaps most concerning, attacks on widely used third-party platforms, including the recent Collins Aerospace incident, have shown how a single vendor compromise can cascade across multiple airlines and airports worldwide. In aviation, a weak link anywhere is a risk everywhere.

The danger isn’t just about stolen data. It’s also about operations and safety. We are seeing reports of GPS jamming and spoofing, along with concerns about air traffic control software. Those risks underscore a truth I’ve emphasized for years: in aviation, cybersecurity is not just an IT issue; it is a safety issue. The consequences of disruption go beyond downtime or financial losses. They can ripple into flight delays, global travel chaos, and even risks to passenger safety.

There are encouraging signs. Regulators and industry leaders are starting to act. The FAA recently convened the Civil Aviation Cybersecurity ARC to develop standards and roadmaps, and international bodies such as ICAO and EASA are paying close attention. But policy and governance move slowly, while adversaries innovate quickly. We cannot afford to lag.

Six Steps to Mitigate Risk

So, what do you think should be done? First, aviation stakeholders must treat cybersecurity as part of their core safety culture. Boards and executives need to measure cyber resilience the same way they measure flight safety metrics. Regular incident playbooks and joint exercises between airlines, airports, air traffic controllers, and vendors should be standard practice.

Second, identity security must be hardened. Most intrusions still begin with stolen credentials or social engineering. Airlines and vendors should implement adaptive multi-factor authentication, enforce strict verification protocols, and continuously monitor for anomalous access patterns.

Third, supply chains need stronger oversight. Airlines rely on hundreds of vendors, many of whom are now prime targets. Contracts should mandate robust cybersecurity practices, and continuous vendor monitoring should become the norm. If the Collins Aerospace incident taught us anything, it’s that a vendor’s weakness can become the industry’s problem overnight.

Fourth, legacy systems must be modernized and segmented. Many critical OT systems were never designed to withstand today’s cyber threats. Proper network segmentation, secure gateways, and anomaly detection tailored to aviation operations are essential to protect air traffic management and ground support systems.

Fifth, we need to look ahead. AI, 5G, IoT, and edge computing are rapidly being adopted in aviation, and they must be secured by design, not bolted on as an afterthought. And we should start preparing now for quantum-safe encryption. The aviation industry relies on sensitive, long-term data that will be vulnerable once quantum computing matures. Building a roadmap for cryptographic agility is no longer optional.

Finally, collaboration is non-negotiable. Aviation is a global enterprise, and cyber risks don’t respect national borders. Governments, industry, and academia must share intelligence more openly, harmonize international standards, and run cross-border incident response exercises.

The lesson is clear: aviation cybersecurity is at an inflection point. The sector cannot rely on incremental fixes or siloed defenses. It must invest in systemic resilience — not only to protect data, but to safeguard the very trust that makes air travel possible.

Cybersecurity is a team sport. Nowhere is that truer than in aviation, where the stakes are measured in both security and safety. The time to act is now.