American Airlines Breach - July 5, 2022

American Airlines is the largest airline in the world based on fleet size. Having been around 95 years, they have quite a reputation to uphold.

What Was the Breach?

In July of 2022, American Airlines discovered unauthorized access to a “limited number” of employee email addresses. They immediately shut down the compromised emails to limit the possible damage. Then, they immediately hired a third-party cyber forensics firm to investigate the situation and fortify the airline's systems.

How Did the Breach Occur?

The airline explained that a phishing campaign led to the infiltration of some of their employees' emails. The information accessed included but was not limited to names, birthdays, license plate numbers, and passport information.

When Did This Breach Occur?

This breach was discovered on July 5th, 2022.

Who Does the Breach Impact?

The breach will impact "a very small number of customers and employees.” The airline has assured the press that there is no evidence that the information is being misused. However, with the amount of information accessed by the "unauthorized actor," it's difficult to say exactly what the hacker plans to do with it, though their opportunities are limitless.

How Many Files Does the Breach Affect?

The airline has not released how many people were affected by the hack, instead only saying it was “a limited number.” Their cryptic responses have left many to wonder, how much exactly is a ‘limited number’ to a company with over 200 million yearly customers? Find out more about this breach here American Airlines Data Breach Leaves Millions in Question of Their Safety.