Photo/Illutration Customers at a check-in counter in Haneda Airport in Tokyo at 10:40 a.m. on Dec. 26 (Kazushige Kobayashi)

Japan Airlines announced on Dec. 26 that its computer network was hit by a cyberattack, which delayed some flights while the company worked to restore the system and resume normal operations. 

According to JAL, the cyberattack caused a heavy access load to the network equipment connecting internal and external offices from 7:24 a.m. that morning.

The heavy traffic rendered the automatic baggage check-in system and other systems unusable.

As of noon on the same day, 75 domestic flights were delayed for 30 minutes or more.

As of 10:20 a.m., sales of tickets for both domestic and international flights departing on the same day were suspended.

JAL issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience and assured the public that there was no impact on flight safety. 

At Haneda Airport, as of shortly after 10:30 a.m., the automatic check-in machines for passengers’ boarding were in operation, and there were no long waiting lines.

Staff explained to customers that “the check-in system is now functioning normally.”

“I thought the airport would be in chaos due to the cyberattack, so I came earlier than I initially planned. I was relieved to see that the flight I was planning to take was not canceled,” said a female corporate worker in her 40s living in Tokyo who was planning to fly to her hometown. 

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, JAL notified it about the cyberattack on the morning of Dec. 26. 

The MPD is currently confirming details of the unauthorized access, with the possibility of an investigation on suspicion of obstruction of business by damaging a computer.

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