Nearly nine million holidaymakers' data stolen after cyber attack on three UK airports - including Stansted and Manchester - with phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes among seized data

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 09:01 EDT, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 09:04 EDT, 27 August 2026 Nearly nine million holidaymakers’ data was stolen after a cyber attack on three major UK airports, it emerged today.Email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes were seized from travellers who used Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports.It was unclear who carried out the attack, which happened last weekend, with the airports’ owner saying it could not reveal who was behind it for ‘security reasons’.But it is understood it has been reported to the National Cyber Security Centre, part of the intelligence and security agency GCHQ, and watchdog the Information Commissioner’s Office.Manchester Airport Group (MAG), which runs the three hubs, insisted that no bank or payment details were stolen and that ‘at no point’ were passengers put in danger.It also said flights were taking off as normal and that holidaymakers shouldn’t change their plans.It is understood that the majority of data stolen was restricted to customer email addresses and related to wifi sign-ups within the airports’ terminals. Travellers who have used Stansted airport were among those to have their data stolen in the cyber attack But the major breach will hugely concern the roughly 8.7 million passengers who had their details stolen.A MAG spokesman said: ‘Manchester Airports group has been subject to a cyber security incident by an unauthorised third party.A quantity of customer data has been obtained that relates to car park, lounge and fast track bookings and in-airport wifi sign-ups at Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports.‘We immediately contained the risk and have been working with specialist advisers and taking appropriate steps to protect our customers and systems.‘We have informed and are working with the relevant authorities. At no point has passenger safety or aviation security been compromised.‘The incident has not resulted in any operational disruption. Airport operations remain unaffected and customer parking services continue to operate normally.‘Neither MAG nor the system accessed hold customers’ bank or payment details. The data that has been accessed includes customers’ email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes.‘We would like to reassure customers that Manchester Airport Group takes the security of customer information extremely seriously and we apologise for any inconvenience or concern caused.’More than 32 million passengers flew into or out of Manchester Airport last year, while more than 30 million travelled through Stansted, in Essex, and four million through East Midlands in Leicestershire.