In June, several North American airlines, including WestJet and Hawaiian Airlines, found themselves hit by cyberattacks. The FBI has issued a warning that the notorious cybercrime group known as Scattered Spider is shifting its focus to target the aviation industry.
Scattered Spider, which previously extorted major gaming and hospitality companies like Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts in 2023, often infiltrates networks by tricking IT support staff and leveraging third-party vendor access. Once inside, they extract sensitive data and may deploy ransomware.
WestJet recently stated it has made “significant progress” in addressing its incident, while Hawaiian Airlines confirmed discovering an intrusion on June 23, 2025, prompting immediate safeguards and confirming that flight operations remain unaffected. The FAA coordinates with Hawaiian Airlines and affirms that safety has not been compromised. WestJet reported that: “Our operations remain safe and stable and are not impacted by the situation.”
