Japan Airlines (JAL) announced on Thursday that it had fallen victim to a cyberattack, resulting in delays for over 20 domestic flights.
Fortunately, the airline quickly addressed the situation and was able to restore its systems within a few hours, assuring travelers that flight safety remained intact.
Details of the Cyberattack
The disruption began early Thursday morning when issues arose within JAL’s network, which connects its internal and external systems.
Upon further inspection, the airline discovered that the problems stemmed from a deliberate overload of its network caused by excessive data transmissions.
This attack is categorized as a denial-of-service attack, a technique aimed at incapacitating systems by overwhelming them with traffic until they become inoperable.
JAL clarified that no viruses were present in the attack and confirmed that customer data was not compromised.
By late morning, the cyber incident had caused delays of over 30 minutes for 24 flights.
Ongoing Cybersecurity Concerns
Experts in cybersecurity have expressed ongoing worries about Japan’s vulnerability to cyber threats, particularly as the nation works to bolster its defenses alongside the United States and other allies recognized for their strong cybersecurity frameworks.
While Japan has begun to improve its protective measures, specialists believe additional steps are crucial.
Earlier this year, in June, Japan’s space agency revealed its experiences with numerous cyberattacks since the start of 2023; however, it confirmed that sensitive information regarding rockets, satellites, and defense systems remained secure.
Investigations are currently underway to formulate enhanced preventive strategies.
Last year, a major cyber incident affected operations at a container terminal in Nagoya for three days.
Impact on Travelers
As for the recent cyberattack on JAL, the airline temporarily suspended ticket sales for both domestic and international flights scheduled to depart on Thursday, though these sales resumed a few hours later.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi addressed the issue during a news conference, noting that the transport ministry advised JAL to expedite the recovery of its systems and provide support to affected passengers.
In contrast, other Japanese airlines such as ANA Holdings, Skymark, and Starflyer reported no repercussions from the cyber assault.
Television images displayed long lines of passengers at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, where the timing of the cyberattack coincided with the peak travel season for year-end holidays.
The New Year celebrations are significant in Japan, and millions of individuals are expected to travel back to their hometowns from urban centers starting this weekend.
Source: Claimsjournal
