Japan Airlines said on Thursday that its system network used to register baggage was under a cyberattack, with at least 24 domestic flights delayed by up to an hour, and some international flights were also affected.
The airline said the problems began occurring around 7:25 a.m., prompting Japan Airlines to halt ticket sales for domestic and international flights for the rest of the day. Already purchased tickets can still be used.
Investigating sources said the airline told police it may have been the victim of a distributed denial of service attack, or DDoS attack, in which data from multiple sources floods networks over a short period.
An electronic sign at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport informs passengers of a problem with the Japan Airlines network on December 26, 2024. (Kyodo) == Kyodo
Japan Airlines said it is working to confront the cyber attack and determine its source, adding that the attack may have a greater impact on its flights. The airline succeeded in temporarily shutting down the router, which is believed to have been compromised.
“Through the Ministry of Transportation, we have requested JAL to repair its system as soon as possible to respond appropriately to affected customers,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the government’s chief spokesman, said at a news conference.
The airlines, including All Nippon Airways, Skymark Airlines, Solaseed Air and Star Flyer, have not suffered any cyberattacks and are operating as usual.
Passengers at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport were seen questioning staff and anxiously checking their phones, but there was little noticeable confusion at Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture near the capital.
“I was able to check in fine,” said a man in his 30s, who was traveling from Haneda to Ishigaki Island in the southern prefecture of Japan. “I was looking forward to this end-of-year trip, but it is worrying that there is a problem.” Okinawa.
“It’s a nuisance during the busy year-end period,” said a man in his 60s who was traveling home in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture in western Japan.
Travelers wait in a long line at the Japan Airlines counter at Osaka Airport on December 26, 2024, as some of the airline’s flights were delayed due to a cyberattack on its system network. (kyodo)
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