SpiceJet flights delayed after ransomware attack; passengers told it’s a server issue

• Hundreds of SpiceJet passengers were left stranded at various airports on Wednesday morning.
• The company’s spokesperson confirmed the development highlighting that it was due to a ransomware attack.
• Ransomware is a type of malware attack in which the attacker locks and encrypts the victim's data.

Hundreds of SpiceJet passengers were left stranded at various airports on Wednesday (May 25) morning due to a ransomware attack the company faced the night before. The company spokesperson confirmed the development.

Ransomware is a type of malware attack in which the attacker locks and encrypts the victim's data, important files and then demands a payment to unlock and decrypt the data. The attack slowed down the departure of SpiceJet’s flights earlier today.

While SpiceJet has informed the customers about the delay due to the attack, the ground staff had been giving various reasons to the customers for the delay. Many SpiceJet passengers on the ground have been told that the delay was due to server issues.

“All Spicejet flights delayed because of a so-called ‘server’ issue.. no update given.. passengers sitting in the flight for the past 2 hours,” Raghav Jhunjhunwala, a Spicejet flier, tweeted.

“#spicejet our flight from Mumbai to Jaipur is delayed for more then 1 hour 30 min still your servers are having an issue!” notes Abhishek Taylor, another Twitter user.

The development comes only a few days after SpiceJet revealed its plans to start broadband internet service on its planes.

The Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet Ajay Singh — in an email to employees on the 17th anniversary of the airlines — said that the carrier continues to fly with the highest loads month after month and expect to soar even higher in the coming months.

The airline has a fleet of 91 aircraft, out of which 13 are Max planes and 46 are older versions of Boeing 737 aircraft, as per its website.

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