Russia’s Aeroflot Flights Halt After Major Cyberattack

Flights across Russia were grounded after Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, was hit by a cyberattack on July 28, 2025.

Silent Crow, a pro-Ukrainian hacker collective, and affiliated Belarusian hackers took credit, stating they seized terabytes of internal data and destroyed key operational systems.

Attack Overview

Screenshots shared by the group suggest access to Aeroflot’s internal active directory and user credentials. Aeroflot’s website displayed a "temporarily restricted" message, and Russian prosecutors confirmed over 60 flight cancellations due to a hacker attack.

• Seizure of internal active directory and user credentials
• Destruction of critical operational systems
• Grounding of more than 60 domestic and international flights
• Website outage with temporary restriction error

Broader Implications for Aviation Security

The attack highlights how airlines remain high-value targets for cyber actors exploiting geopolitical tensions. Disrupting a carrier’s infrastructure not only affects logistics but can undermine public trust and national security.

As aviation systems become more interconnected, the potential attack surface expands. Organizations must adopt proactive security measures to defend against sophisticated multi-actor campaigns that blend hacktivism with state-aligned motivations.

QuarkyByte’s Approach to Aviation Cyber Defense

• Continuous threat monitoring to detect nation-state tactics in real time
• Tailored incident response drills to minimize downtime and data loss
• Regular security audits across on-premises and cloud-based systems
• Advanced forensics to rapidly analyze breaches and prevent recurrence

By combining deep intelligence with hands-on cybersecurity expertise, QuarkyByte helps airlines reinforce resilience, protect passenger data, and ensure seamless operations, even under the most advanced cyber threats.