Alaska Airlines Flight Operations Halted by IT Outage

Alaska Airlines experienced a systemwide outage due to a technology issue, highlighting the fragility of digital infrastructure in aviation. While not caused by a cyberattack, the incident underscores the sector's vulnerability to cyber threats, especially given recent cyber espionage activities by state-sponsored actors like Salt Typhoon. The event raises urgent calls for treating airlines as critical infrastructure, implementing robust cybersecurity measures, and increasing federal and private sector cooperation to prevent future disruptions that could threaten lives and the economy.