Apparent cyberattack causes major internet outages at Sea-Tac airport

SEATTLE — An apparent cyberattack disrupted internet, phones, email and other systems at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for a third day on Monday as Port of Seattle officials worked to investigate the outages and restore full service.

The hack has primarily impacted the airport’s internal system that serves so-called “common use gates” that are shared spaces used by international and smaller carriers.Spokesperson Perry Cooper said Alaska and Delta, which operate 75% of all flights at the airport, are not affected in the same way.

"We're working around the clock to get necessary systems back online and to mitigate impacts to our passengers," the airport's aviation managing director Lance Lyttle said in a press conference Sunday.

The airport posted on X at 5:34 p.m. Monday that they're temporarily posting updates on a new website.

Lyttle said the airport is investigating with the help of outside experts and is working closely with federal partners, including the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection. Officials have not released details about the full scope of the outage, but Lyttle said it was not affecting TSA's ability to screen passengers.

Cooper would not say if the airport knew who was behind the hack or the circumstances that led up to it but noted that “nefarious” activity was spotted on Saturday.

Some airlines had resorted to handwritten boarding passes, according to Perry.

Both of the airlines use Sea-Tac as a hub. Still, the outage did affect the Port of Seattle's baggage sorting system, prompting airlines to warn passengers to avoid checking bags if possible to avoid potential delays.

"TSA's security equipment and operations have not been impacted by the outage. We would like to reinforce that the security of the traveling public was never in question and the TSA has continued to screen all passengers and baggage with our robust screening procedures," TSA said in a statement. "Our nearly 1,000 TSA Officers at Seattle International Airport have continued to provide world-class security. We thank the men and women of TSA Seattle for their dedication and steadfast work this weekend and every day."

A TSA spokesperson says the local operation runs on a different system and was not impacted and that agents still have the ability to cross reference identification and flight manifests with the outage through the rest of the airport.

The airport also warned travelers to allow extra time at the airport and to use airline mobile applications to get boarding passes and bag tags when possible.

Still, many travelers faced security lines that were longer than normal and long waits at baggage claims and checking. Terminal screens were also out throughout the airport, making it difficult for some to determine their assigned gate.

"Port teams continue to make progress on returning systems to normal operations, but there is not an estimated time for return," the airport wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

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