Japan Airlines (JAL) experienced major disruptions Thursday morning after a cyberattack delayed domestic and international flights.
For hours, the airline halted ticket sales and temporarily disabled its mobile app, affecting travelers across the country.
The disruption began at 7:24 a.m. when JAL identified a problem with equipment connecting its internal systems to external networks. By 9:00 a.m., the airline took quick action, shutting down the router believed to be the source of the problem. However, the incident has already led to widespread delays, affecting more than 40 flights at airports across Japan.
By noon, nearly 40 percent of Japan Airlines’ scheduled flights had been postponed, NHK reported. Although some domestic flights were cancelled, international operations were not significantly affected.
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, JAL confirmed that same-day ticket sales have resumed and that the affected systems have been restored. The airline assured customers that no personal information was leaked during the attack.
Despite the disruption, Japan Airlines stressed that passenger safety was never compromised. An investigation is underway to determine the origin of the cyber attack and identify those responsible.
The airline’s ability to restore operations within hours minimized the overall impact on travelers, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities facing the airline industry. As airlines increasingly rely on digital systems, the threat of cyber attacks poses new challenges to maintaining smooth operations.
Japan Airlines’ rapid response highlights the importance of strong cybersecurity measures. Although the immediate crisis has passed, the results of the investigation may prompt further improvements to prevent similar incidents in the future.
