Payam Javan: Japan Airlines (JAL) reported a cyberattack on Thursday, which caused delays to 24 domestic flights for over 30 minutes each. The attack, which began in the morning, targeted the airline’s internal and external network systems, overwhelming them with massive data transmissions. While operations were disrupted, JAL confirmed there was no impact on flight safety, no customer data leaks occurred, and the system was restored within hours. Ticket sales for both domestic and international flights were temporarily suspended but resumed the same day.

The cyberattack coincided with Japan’s busy year-end holiday season, leading to crowded terminals at Tokyo’s Haneda airport as passengers awaited updates. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that the transport ministry instructed JAL to expedite system restoration and assist affected passengers. Other Japanese airlines, including ANA Holdings and Skymark, were not impacted by the incident.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about Japan’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities, particularly as the nation strengthens its defense ties with international partners. Cybersecurity experts have called for increased measures to protect critical systems, referencing previous attacks, such as one on Japan’s space agency earlier this year and a 2022 breach that disrupted port operations in Nagoya for three days.

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