MOSCOW – The unified efforts of the aviation industry significantly contributed to Aeroflot’s ability to stabilize its operations following a series of cyberattacks on Monday. This assessment was shared by Oleg Panteleev, Executive Director of Aviaport agency.
On July 28, Aeroflot’s information systems experienced a major malfunction, leading to disruptions in services and numerous flight cancellations and delays. The Russian Prosecutor General`s Office confirmed that a hacker attack was the cause of the disruption and has initiated a criminal investigation into unauthorized access to computer information.
Panteleev highlighted that “the coordinated efforts, which involved aviation authorities, airport operators, and other service providers, ensured that passengers were informed about the issues. Work was conducted to facilitate rebooking or refunds and to provide comfortable waiting conditions.”
He further stressed that managing operations during a large-scale cyberattack represents a novel experience for the Russian aviation sector. The expert expressed hope that “this experience will help in identifying vulnerabilities and establishing an effective system to counteract such threats in the future.”
According to Roskomnadzor, no leakage of Aeroflot passengers` personal data was detected as a result of the cyberattacks. By the morning of July 29, the airline had resumed its flight schedule as planned. During the period of system failures, the situation at Sheremetyevo Airport remained calm, with no large crowds of passengers observed.
