SpiceJet claimed this morning that its systems were targeted by a ransomware attack on Tuesday night, affecting early departures.
The problem has been resolved, and flights are now operating normally, according to the airline. “Important Update: An attempted ransomware assault on SpiceJet systems occurred yesterday night, affecting and slowing down morning aircraft departures today. Our IT staff was able to contain and resolve the issue, and flights are currently operating properly.”
On Twitter, a person named Mudit Shejwar posted a video from onboard a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Dharamshala.
“We’ve been on board Singapore Airlines flight SG2345 to Dharmshala for 80 minutes and have yet to take off. Is this for real? The only communication is about a server outage and a problem with fuel paperwork.” At 7.28 a.m., the enraged tourist wrote.
“Close to 3 hrs still going, no reasonable reaction from the team,” he wrote again at 8.50 a.m.
SpiceJet responded at 9:02 a.m., saying: “Hi Mudit, please be aware that an attempted ransomware attack on SpiceJet systems occurred last night, affecting and slowing down early flight departures today. Our IT team has managed to control and resolve the issue, and flights are presently operating regularly.”
Mudjit, however, tweeted again at 9.36 a.m., this time with a video from inside the jet. “Is everything normal? We’ve been stuck for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Neither cancelling nor operating the flight, not even sitting in the airport. Without breakfast, there is no response!”
People were seen standing around inside the cabin in the 10-second footage. “Even the ground crew is having trouble; poor guys are surviving on juice, cookies, and peanuts!” Mudjit explained.
This isn’t the first time SpiceJet planes have been delayed at Delhi International Airport. According to PTI, they were delayed last week due to complications with the airline’s payment to the Airports Authority of India.
A technological error, according to an airline representative, caused the daily payment to be delayed. “The automatic daily payment could not be executed due to a technical fault in SAP,” a spokeswoman said.
“The same is being sent to AAI, which has been informed of the problem. SpiceJet’s flights have resumed normal operations “Added the spokeswoman.