Japan Airlines (JAL) experienced a cyberattack on Thursday, December 26, 2024, leading to delays in over 20 domestic flights during the busy year-end holiday season.
The attack began at 7:24 a.m., disrupting JAL’s internal and external systems by overwhelming the network with massive data transmissions. This led to the temporary suspension of same-day ticket sales and caused malfunctions by shutting down a router. Despite these issues, there were no leaks of customer information or damage from computer viruses.
JAL’s systems were restored to normal operations within hours, and ticket sales for both domestic and international flights resumed later in the day. The airline confirmed that flight safety was not compromised during the incident.
Other Japanese airlines, including ANA Holdings, reported no signs of similar attacks on their systems.
This incident has raised concerns about Japan’s cybersecurity, with experts emphasizing the need for further improvements, especially as the country enhances its defense capabilities and collaborates more closely with international partners.