Japan Airlines (JAL), the nation’s second-largest airline, reported a cyberattack on Thursday, causing delays to 24 domestic flights by over half an hour. The disruption, attributed to issues with the airline’s baggage check-in system, affected operations at several Japanese airports but avoided major chaos.
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JAL swiftly identified the problem and isolated a malfunctioning router by 8:56 am local time, stating, “We identified and addressed the cause of the issue. We are checking the system recovery status.” Sales for domestic and international flights departing the same day were temporarily suspended.
The airline hinted at a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, a common method used to overwhelm systems. Despite the network disruption, JAL assured passengers that safety remained uncompromised.
The cyberattack briefly impacted JAL shares, which dropped 2.5% in morning trade before recovering slightly. The incident adds to a growing list of cyberattacks targeting Japanese entities, including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Toyota suppliers, and major ports.
Fatal Collision Interim Report Released: Separately, an interim report from Japan’s transport ministry shed light on a January 2024 collision involving a JAL passenger jet and a coast guard plane at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The crash, caused by human error, killed five coast guard crew members. The report cited miscommunication between the plane’s pilot and air traffic control, coupled with a rushed departure. All 379 passengers aboard the JAL Airbus evacuated safely before the aircraft was engulfed in flames.
This dual focus on cybersecurity and safety underscores the increasing operational challenges facing Japan’s aviation sector.
