Cyber Incident Victim: Qantas
Date:
Mar 2023
Location:
China
Summary
Qantas experienced electronic interference with aircraft navigation and communication systems in the western Pacific and South China Sea, purportedly from Chinese military vessels. The incidents involved disruptions to VHF communications along with potential jamming of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and radar altimeters, posing risks to flight safety. The airline directed pilots to maintain assigned routes, report issues to air traffic control, and confirmed no safety incidents occurred. Broader advisories from aviation organizations cautioned crews against engaging with unidentified warship communications and emphasized mandatory reporting of such encounters.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 1 technique |
| Threat Actor | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 actor | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
In early March 2023, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) issued an alert on March 2, indicating it had received reports of military warships—primarily in the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, and areas east of the Indian Ocean—contacting commercial and military aircraft via emergency VHF frequencies (121.50 MHz and 123.45 MHz). The warships, purporting to represent the Chinese military, directed some flights to alter their paths within these contested regions. Subsequent to this alert, Qantas Airways confirmed experiencing similar interference by March 20, with its aircraft encountering disruptions to VHF (Very High Frequency) communication stations from unidentified maritime sources claiming affiliation with Chinese military forces. The incidents occurred in the western Pacific and South China Sea corridors. Qantas responded by distributing standing operational instructions to its pilots, emphasizing adherence to original flight paths despite interference and mandating immediate reporting to the controlling air traffic authority. The airline clarified no safety incidents resulted from these disruptions.
Technical assessments by IFALPA indicated additional risks beyond VHF interference, including potential jamming of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and radar altimeters (RADALT)—critical instruments for navigation and terrain avoidance. The corroborated disruptions targeted aircraft systems essential for situational awareness, posing risks to flight operations if sustained or escalated. Qantas maintained its directive for pilots to avoid direct engagement with the warships, instead adhering to established air traffic control protocols and internal reporting procedures. Concurrent geopolitical tensions contextualized the events, including regional accusations—detailed separately in diplomatic correspondence—of China asserting control over maritime territories and critical infrastructure. The aviation industry’s response focused on procedural compliance and incident documentation, with no attribution of motive or confirmation of the warships’ origins beyond the entities’ self-identification. Operational impacts remained confined to communication disruptions, with no reported deviations, injuries, or equipment damage. Further monitoring and multilateral aviation coordination ensued without public disclosure of countermeasures.