Nearly nine million individuals had their personal information compromised in a cybersecurity breach affecting three major airports in England, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The data breach involved Manchester Airport, East Midlands Airport, and London Stansted Airport, according to statements from airport authorities.

Hackers gained unauthorized access to customer information primarily connected to services such as Wi-Fi registrations and parking space bookings. The compromised data included contact details, vehicle registration numbers, and postal codes. Authorities reported that the perpetrators demanded an unspecified ransom following the breach.

Airport representatives urged affected customers to remain cautious of any suspicious emails or communications, advising vigilance against potential phishing attempts or other fraud activities stemming from the incident. The three airports are reportedly cooperating with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement to investigate the attack further and enhance their security protocols.

No evidence has been provided regarding the identity of the hackers or their motives beyond the apparent financial demand. Meanwhile, affected airports are assessing the full scope of the data accessed and the potential risks to those impacted.

This incident underscores growing concerns over cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the transportation sector and the importance of protecting sensitive personal data amid increasing digital service usage in airports.