Japan Airlines (JAL) suffered a major cyberattack on Thursday, resulting in widespread flight delays and the suspension of ticket sales. At least 14 domestic flights were delayed by up to an hour, with disruptions also affecting some international services, according to Kyodo News.
The airline confirmed that the incident began around 7:25 am, leading to an immediate suspension of ticket sales for both domestic and international flights for the entire day. Passengers with pre-purchased tickets were assured that their bookings remained valid.
In response, JAL initiated efforts to contain the attack, temporarily shutting down a compromised router and working to identify its source. The Metropolitan Police Department has been engaged to investigate the matter, according to sources. The airline warned that the attack could have broader implications for its flight operations.
Earlier in the day, JAL addressed the situation on X, stating, “We identified and addressed the cause of the issue. We are checking the system recovery status. Sales for both domestic and international flights departing today have been suspended. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
In a separate post, the airline added, “Our network systems are down. The cause is under investigation. This may potentially affect the operations of both domestic and international flights. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”
(Inputs from ANI)