The Port of Seattle is currently experiencing a cyberattack that has affected operations at Sea-Tac Airport as well as other Port-affiliated entities. Port officials have not provided details about the attack and are unable to estimate when operations will return to normal. On Saturday morning, the Port turned off its entire system after noticing suspicious activity by potential hackers. While security screenings at the airport are still functioning normally, there have been disruptions to services such as airport WiFi, baggage services, and flight information screens.
The outage has also impacted the port’s Maritime Facilities phone systems, email and phone services for Port staff, and the Port of Seattle website, which is currently inaccessible. However, cruise travel has not been affected by the cyberattack. The Port is continuously providing updates on a dedicated webpage to keep travelers informed of the situation. International travelers have been advised to allow for extra time when arriving at SEA airport due to the manual bag tags and boarding passes being provided by some airlines.
As of now, the Port has not disclosed who is responsible for the cyberattack or how they accessed their systems. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have assured that their systems were not affected by the outage. Passengers are encouraged to stick to carry-on luggage as the baggage conveyor belt system at the airport is also experiencing delays. Airlines using the Port’s technical infrastructure for checking in bags are more affected by the outage.
Airport officials suggest arriving early, especially for flights with Frontier, Spirit, Sun Country, JetBlue, and international airlines. International carriers are providing their own technical equipment to navigate through the disruptions caused by the cyberattack. The Port is working with the FBI and other partners to investigate the incident, but has not provided a timeline for when normal operations will resume. Last month, Sea-Tac Airport experienced a global IT disruption caused by a flawed update from cybersecurity software company CrowdStrike.
The Port and other critical infrastructure are attractive targets for hackers due to the valuable data they hold, such as passenger information and cargo manifests. Cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about the threat of cyberattacks on ports and have emphasized the importance of bolstering security measures. The Biden Administration issued an executive order in February to enhance the security of maritime critical infrastructure. The Port continues to provide updates on the situation through its website and social media channels, and travelers are advised to stay informed about any changes in operations.
