American Airlines pilots union hit by ransomware

American Airlines’ pilots’ union is working to restore its systems following a ransomware attack, the latest in a series of cyber incidents affecting the aviation industry.

The union, which represents more than 15,000 pilots at the airline, posted a review on its website, explaining that it first discovered the cyberattack on October 30.

The unnamed cybersecurity firm hired to conduct an investigation confirmed that the syndicate was the victim of ransomware and said some systems were encrypted.

“As a result, restoring these systems required a methodical and time-consuming process for our IT team and external experts,” the statement said. “As we work to recover from backups, we also continue to assess potential impacts to data, including member data. Investigations of this nature often take time.

The organization’s IT team is working with external experts to restore their systems and noted that efforts are “progressing,” allowing them to bring some services back online soon.

“Once the initial restoration is in place, we will continue to restore additional services over the coming hours and days, prioritizing products and tools for pilots,” the union explained.

“We are working diligently to be fully operational as quickly as possible, while keeping the security of our systems at the forefront. »

In posts On social media, the union said the cybersecurity incident began early in the morning of October 30. Some essential services have been restored throughout the week, but the organization will continue to provide updates on their progress.

The aviation industry has faced relentless attacks over the past six months. One of Mexico’s busiest airports on Wednesday was hit by a cyber attack and a day later, aircraft manufacturer Boeing confirmed that it was responding to a cyber attack involving its spare parts and distribution activities.

Both incidents were claimed by ransomware gangs. Air Canada And Air Europe also both faced incidents last month while European aerospace giant Airbus said in September that she was investigating a cybersecurity incident.

Jonathan Greig

Jonathan Greig is a breaking news reporter at Recorded Future News. Jonathan has worked as a journalist around the world since 2014. Before returning to New York, he worked for media outlets in South Africa, Jordan and Cambodia. He previously covered cybersecurity at ZDNet and TechRepublic.