Mahan Air, Iran’s second largest airline, has sustained a serious cyberattack.
The incident occurred on November 21, 2021. The airline’s website was down for some time, and customers received messages from the hackers, Iranian media reports.
Mahan Air acknowledged the attacks, and stated that the problems have been dealt with and subsequent flights will continue according to the schedule.
Taking to Twitter, the airline said: “This is considered a normal occurrence. Mahan Cybersecurity Team has always acted intelligently and in a timely manner, and has thwarted these attacks.”
با سلام
در پی انتشار خبر حمله سایبری به سیستم های شرکت هواپیمایی ماهان به اطلاع میرساند با نظر به جایگاه هواپیمایی ماهان در صنعت حمل و نقل هوایی کشور اینگونه حملات به دفعات مختلف و در زمان های گوناگون نسبت به این شرکت انجام یافته تا شاید بتوانند خدشه ای بر عملکرد آن وارد کنند— Mahan Air | هواپیمایی ماهان (@MahanAirlines) November 21, 2021
A group called Hooshyarane Vatan claimed responsibility for the attack. On its social media channels, the group said that it obtained sensitive documents linking Mahan Air to illegal military operations.
Mahan Air has been linked with IRGC and Quds Force in the past. In 2011, the US Department of Treasury has designated Mahan Air as supporter of terrorism, on the account that the airline “provides transportation, funds transfers and personnel travel services to the IRGC-QF”.
Numerous countries have banned the airline from their airspace, including the US, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Italy.