Major US airport websites taken offline, pro-Russia hacking group takes credit

The websites of multiple US airports were taken offline Monday morning, with a pro-Russian hacking group claiming responsibility.

According to Bleeping Computer, the group known as Killnet launched a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, making the affected airports’ websites unavailable. The affected airports included Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Representatives for LAX and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport told FOX Business that their websites are back up and running and that operations at their airports were not impacted. Internal investigations into the incident are underway and the FBI and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have been notified.

An FBI spokesperson told FOX Business the agency is “aware of the incident” but declined to comment further.

Representatives for Chicago O’Hare, the TSA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) did not immediately return FOX Business’ request for comment. 

Killnet — which has stepped up hacking efforts against countries that oppose Russia’s war in Ukraine — previously claimed responsibility for attacks that targeted government websites in Colorado, Kentucky and Mississippi last week and Congress’ website in July.

“Vladimir Putin seeks to compel the U.S. to stop providing military support to Ukraine by attempting to place pressure on Americans,” Rebekah Koffler, a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer and the author of “Putin’s Playbook: Russia’s Secret Plan to Defeat America,” told FOX Business. “Inflicting gradual pain by disrupting the normal functioning of the society is part of the doctrine. The goal is to reach the point where people get tired of inconveniences and demand that the U.S. government abandon Ukraine.”