Japan Airlines (JAL) announced on Thursday that its systems were back to normal following a cyberattack that caused delays for some domestic and international flights. The incident, which began at 7:24 a.m., disrupted internal and external systems, forcing JAL to temporarily suspend ticket sales for flights departing that day.
Quick Recovery and No Data Breach
JAL reported that the cyberattack caused a router malfunction, which was swiftly addressed. The airline emphasized that no customer information was leaked and that no computer viruses were involved, minimizing potential long-term damage.
“We’ve resumed same-day ticket sales, and our systems are operating normally,” a JAL spokesperson confirmed.
ANA Systems Unaffected
ANA Holdings, Japan’s other major airline, stated that it observed no signs of a cyberattack on its systems, ensuring smooth operations throughout the day.
Broader Context: Airline System Outages
The JAL cyberattack follows a week of disruptions in the aviation industry, including a brief grounding of all American Airlines flights due to a technical glitch involving network hardware. The hour-long outage occurred on Christmas Eve, affecting thousands of travelers during the peak holiday season.
Growing Cybersecurity Concerns
The airline industry has increasingly become a target for cyberattacks, highlighting the need for robust cybersecurity measures. Incidents like the JAL attack serve as a reminder of the vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and the importance of swift responses to minimize disruptions.
