U.K. authorities on Wednesday said a man in his 40s has been arrested in connection to the hack of Collins Aerospace, which led to major flight disruptions across Europe over the past weekend.
The U.K.’s National Crime Agency said it arrested the man in the West Sussex area on Tuesday evening, on suspicion of violations related to the Computer Misuse Act, according to a post from the agency.
The man, who was not identified by name, has been released on conditional bail, according to the agency.
While the arrest is considered a “positive step,” an investigation into the case is in the early stages and is ongoing, said deputy director Paul Foster, who leads the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit.
A spokesperson for the NCA confirmed the ongoing nature of the investigation, but would not provide additional comment.
Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, provides technology to airlines for passenger check-in and boarding.
A spokesperson for RTX confirmed knowledge of the arrest and thanked authorities for their assistance in the case.
In a post on Mastodon, security researcher Kevin Beaumont said the attack is linked to a variant of Hardbit ransomware.
Several major international airline hubs, including Heathrow Airport in London, Brussels Airport and Berlin Airport, experienced flight delays.
Heathrow officials Wednesday said the vast majority of flights are operating normally, but urged passengers to still arrive at least three hours early for long-haul travel.
