For a third consecutive day on Monday, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport grappled with an apparent cyberattack that disrupted internet, phone services, email, and other essential systems. Port of Seattle officials have been working tirelessly to investigate the issues and restore full functionality.
“We’re working around the clock to get necessary systems back online and to mitigate impacts to our passengers,” stated aviation managing director Lance Lyttle in a Sunday press conference.
Lyttle also mentioned that the airport is collaborating with external experts and federal partners, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Although the complete extent of the outage remains undisclosed, Lyttle assured that TSA’s ability to screen passengers is uncompromised.
Most airlines such as Delta and Alaska Airlines, which use Sea-Tac as a hub, reported no interruptions in service. However, the Port of Seattle’s baggage sorting system was affected, prompting airlines to advise passengers against checking bags whenever possible to avoid delays. The airport’s lost and found system also suffered from the outage.
Travelers were cautioned to allocate extra time for their airport routines and to utilize airline mobile applications for obtaining boarding passes and bag tags where feasible.
Nevertheless, many passengers encountered extended security lines, long waits at baggage claims, and confusion due to inoperative terminal screens. The airport advised passengers via a Facebook post to seek assistance from staff members in green attire.
Among those impacted was Thai Un, 46, who described the chaotic scenes at the airport when he arrived on Sunday with his wife and four young children for their flight to Maui. They endured a 45-minute wait to check their bags and found the flight information screens non-functional. The screens at individual gates, which indicate the next boarding flight, were also out of order, leaving airline personnel to rely on intercom announcements to guide passengers.
Once aboard the plane, the pilot alerted passengers to a delay as crews manually checked bag tags. Upon landing in Maui, Un discovered two of his family’s bags were missing, while another family had lost all their luggage, including children’s car seats.
“We had to go to the customer service,” he said. “Sure enough, we turn around, there’s about 30 people in line, all in the same boat as we are. It was just chaotic.”
Although Un’s family eventually received their two missing bags later that day, the travel ordeal was taxing.
“Any airline or airport, they should have a backup process in place,” Un commented.
The airport’s Facebook post on Sunday acknowledged progress but indicated no estimate for when full normal operations would resume.
