NEWS GLEAMS | Possible Cyberattack on Sea-Tac International Airport; Mount Baker Fire Near Genesee Park

by Vee Hua 華婷婷

Weekend Cyberattack on Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Causes Flight Disruptions

The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport experienced isolated but impactful incidents of internet outages and web issues on Saturday, Aug. 24, following what the Port of Seattle called a "possible cyberattack" that affected "isolated critical systems." The Port of Seattle first posted the news on X on Saturday morning and urged passengers to reach out directly to their airlines for their flight status.

By Sunday, the Port of Seattle still had not given a sense of how long it would take to recover its systems, but a number of the Port of Seattle's websites remained down. In-terminal screens were also facing challenges, and the Port of Seattle once again instructed passengers to speak with airlines about their gate information.

Both Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines — which use Sea-Tac as a major hub — reported that they did not experience delays for their flights. The potential cyberattack did, however, affect the Port of Seattle's baggage-sorting system. On Sunday, Alaska Airlines suggested its customers pack light and avoid checking bags where possible, as it was unsure when the systems would return to normal functionality.

Tracking via FlightAware shows that a number of flights were delayed or canceled on Saturday and Sunday, though the exact cause of the cancellations and delays are unknown. It is not clear whether they were affected by the potential cyberattack.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which often reviews such cyberattacks, gave The Seattle Times a statement on Sunday, saying, "We are aware of the incident and working with our partners to determine what happened. That is all of the information we can provide."

The incident at the airport comes just six months after the Biden administration announced an Executive Order to bolster cybersecurity efforts at U.S. ports nationwide. It also comes less than one month after an erroneous software update by the company CrowdStrike resulted in massive problems in Windows computers nationwide, including delays with several airlines, such as Delta.

Mount Baker Fire Destroys Construction Site and Evacuates 2 Houses Near Genesee Park

Early on Friday morning, Aug. 23, a three-alarm fire near Genesee Park in the Mount Baker neighborhood resulted in the destruction of a home construction site and subsequent evacuation of two nearby homes. The Seattle Fire Department's (SFD) Fire Alarm Center first received 911 calls about the incident at 4:42 a.m.

The destruction of the construction site resulted in gelled powerlines, and eventually, according to the SFD, the incident was upgraded "to a 3-alarm fire where 13 engines, seven ladder trucks along with command and support units responded, totaling over a hundred Seattle Fire personnel."

The fire was eventually declared under control by 6:07 a.m. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Nobody was injured, and residents from evacuated homes sought shelter with their friends and family.

Black Future Co-op Fund Hosts Free 'Afrofuturism in Philanthropy' Livestream

On Aug. 27, the Black Future Co-op Fund will be hosting a free livestream panel centered around the theme of "Afrofuturism in Philanthropy." Throughout the panel, a number of Black leaders will discuss Afrofuturist ideas and principles to promote Black generational wealth, well-being, and justice.

The event is a part of Black Philanthropy Month, which takes place in Washington State and worldwide. The month is dedicated to encouraging investments in Black organizations and communities. In their press release, the livestream organizers shared some of the background that led to the event:

• "Community conversations. Throughout the month, Black leaders across Washington are also hosting local events, with sponsorship from the Black Future Co-op Fund, to elevate the significance of Black philanthropy and encourage action that moves communities toward Black prosperity and well-being over generations.
• "Origins of Black Philanthropy Month. Started in 2011 by Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland and the Pan-African Women's Philanthropy Network, the month-long celebration aims to illuminate the ingenuity and transformative impact of Black generosity.
• "Washington Black Philanthropy Month. In Washington State, this is the fourth year formally recognizing Black Philanthropy Month. Our first year, we worked with Gov. Jay Inslee to officially designate August as Black Philanthropy Month in Washington.
• "A call for strengthening investment. It's important to acknowledge that anti-Black racism has purposely ignored Black communities' contributions to philanthropy, and anti-Black racism has persistently undermined opportunities for Black people to build generational wealth. Moving toward Black abundance and liberation requires intentional, significant increased investment in Black communities to repair centuries of harm."

Panelists will include:

• Vivian Phillips, founder and president of Arte Noir;
• Marcus Trufant, former NFL player and founder of Trufant Family Foundation;
• Toya Randall, curator and catalyst of Voice. Vision. Value.: Black Women Leading Philanthropy; and
• Luc Jasmin, board member of The Black Lens.

The "Afrofuturism in Philanthropy" livestream takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Register and learn more at the Black Future Co-op Fund webpage.

📸 Featured Image: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, SeaTac, Washington, as seen from the air. (Photo: Joe Mabel, under a Creative Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 license)

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