Japan Airlines Hit by Cyber Threat, Causes Flight Delays

Just days after American Airlines faced widespread disruptions due to a network hardware issue on Christmas Eve, Japan Airlines (JAL) has now been struck by a cyberattack, causing delays to both domestic and international flights.

The incident highlights the growing challenges airlines face in safeguarding their systems against cyber threats.

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On Thursday morning, JAL reported “malfunctions in systems communicating with external systems,” which began shortly before 7:30 a.m. local time (11:30 p.m. GMT, Wednesday). These system issues, attributed to a cyberattack, led to delays for more than a dozen flights at airports across Japan.

While no mass cancellations occurred, the disruptions affected both domestic and international schedules, creating inconvenience for travelers. To manage the situation, JAL temporarily paused ticket sales for all flights scheduled on Thursday.

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Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported that several airports experienced delays as JAL worked to resolve the issue. The airline has since been assessing the damage and working to restore normal operations.

This incident underscores the vulnerability of modern aviation systems to cyber threats. Airlines rely heavily on interconnected networks to manage everything from ticketing to flight operations, making them prime targets for cyberattacks.

JAL’s quick action to isolate the problem minimized further disruptions, demonstrating the importance of having rapid response plans in place.