Japan Airlines recently experienced a cyberattack that caused delays for more than 20 domestic flights. Fortunately, the airline was able to interrupt the attack and restore its systems within a few hours. Importantly, the safety of the flights was not compromised.
The trouble began early Thursday morning when the airline’s network, which connects various internal and external systems, encountered malfunctions. Japan Airlines identified the issue as a deliberate attack aimed at overwhelming their network with excessive data transmissions. Such tactics can cripple a system by flooding it with traffic until it can no longer function.
The airline reassured the public that there were no viruses involved in the incident and no customer data was leaked. However, the attack did result in delays for 24 domestic flights of over 30 minutes each.
Cybersecurity experts continue to raise alarms over Japan’s vulnerability in this area, particularly as the country enhances its defense capabilities and collaborates more closely with the United States and other nations that have stronger cyber defenses. While steps have been taken to improve security, experts agree that further action is necessary.
In June, Japan’s space agency reported a series of cyberattacks since the start of the year, though sensitive information regarding rockets, satellites, and defense remained intact. The agency is conducting investigations to implement preventive measures. Last year, a prominent cyberattack disrupted operations at a container terminal in Nagoya for three days.
Although ticket sales for Japan Airlines were temporarily halted for both domestic and international flights on Thursday, they resumed a few hours later.
During a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi urged Japan Airlines to expedite its efforts to restore systems and assist affected passengers. Other Japanese airlines, such as ANA Holdings, Skymark, and Starflyer, reported no interruptions from the incident.
Television footage showed many travelers at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport facing long wait times, coinciding with the busy year-end travel season. With the New Year holidays approaching, millions prepare to return to their hometowns for this significant celebration.
