Cyberattack forces Japan Airlines to delay numerous flights, impacting thousands of travelers during the busy holiday season. JAL is working to restore systems and minimize disruption.
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| Japan Airlines suffered a cyberattack, disrupting domestic flights during the peak holiday travel season. The attack, a DDoS attack, overwhelmed JAL's network, causing delays and operational challenges. Image: Japan Airlines |
Tokyo, Japan - December 27, 2024:
Japan Airlines (JAL) experienced a cyberattack on Thursday, leading to significant delays for over 20 domestic flights. While flight safety was not compromised, the attack disrupted internal and external systems, causing operational challenges.
The attack, identified as a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, aimed to overwhelm JAL's network with excessive data traffic. This effectively overloaded the system, hindering its ability to function.
JAL confirmed that the attack did not involve a virus or result in any data breaches. However, the disruption caused delays exceeding 30 minutes for 24 domestic flights.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about Japan's cybersecurity posture. While the country has taken steps to enhance its defenses, experts emphasize the need for further improvements, particularly as Japan strengthens its defense capabilities and collaborates more closely with allies like the United States.
This attack follows a series of cyber incidents in Japan, including attacks on the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and a crippling attack on a Nagoya port terminal last year.
The timing of the attack, coinciding with the year-end holiday travel season, significantly impacted passengers. JAL temporarily suspended ticket sales, causing congestion at airports like Haneda.
The Japanese government, through Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, urged JAL to swiftly restore its systems and accommodate affected passengers. Other Japanese airlines remained unaffected.