Cyberattack Delays Japan Airlines Flights During Year-End Holiday Season
- tech360.tv
- Dec 31, 2024
- 2 min read
Japan Airlines faced a cyberattack on Thursday, resulting in delays for over 20 domestic flights. The airline managed to contain the attack and restore its systems within hours, ensuring no impact on flight safety. The disruption began in the morning when the network connecting internal and external systems malfunctioned, identified as an attempt to overwhelm the network with massive data transmissions.
The cyberattack did not involve a virus or compromise customer data, but it caused delays for 24 domestic flights lasting over 30 minutes. This incident highlights concerns about Japan's cybersecurity vulnerabilities, despite efforts to enhance defense capabilities and collaborate with countries like the United States with stronger cyber defenses.
In a separate incident, Japan's space agency reported cyberattacks since 2023, focusing on preventive measures to safeguard sensitive information related to space missions and defense. Last year, a cyberattack halted operations at a port in Nagoya for three days, underscoring the persistent threat of cyber incidents in Japan.
Japan Airlines temporarily suspended ticket sales for both domestic and international flights scheduled for Thursday but resumed operations after resolving the issue. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi urged the airline to expedite system restoration and assist affected passengers promptly. Fortunately, other Japanese airlines like ANA Holdings, Skymark, and Starflyer remained unaffected by the cyberattack.
As the cyber incident coincided with the year-end holiday travel season, Tokyo's Haneda airport witnessed crowded terminals as passengers navigated through the disruptions. With the upcoming New Year holidays, marked by significant travel as people return to their hometowns, the cyberattack added strain to an already busy travel period.
Japan Airlines faced a cyberattack causing delays to over 20 domestic flights.
The attack aimed to overwhelm the network with data transmissions, but no customer data was compromised.
Concerns persist about Japan's cybersecurity vulnerabilities despite efforts to enhance defense capabilities.
Source: AP NEWS
