Korean Air controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Amadeus breach exposes airline booking data
Issue disclosure
A breach involving Amadeus reservation systems exposed booking or passenger information associated with Cathay Pacific and other airlines. Cathay Pacific said its own IT systems and flight operations were unaffected. The article reports that investigations were ongoing and that Amadeus had not confirmed the full scope of exposure across its airline customers.
Company response
Remediation — Amadeus
The company implemented password resets and strengthened monitoring and threat-detection capabilities.
Investigation — Cathay Pacific Airways
Cathay Pacific said it had informed the relevant authorities and was continuing to investigate the incident.
Source excerpt
The October 2026 Amadeus data breach involved unauthorized access to airline reservation information, including passenger names, booking references, flight details and, in some cases, additional personal information.
Cathay Pacific confirmed on October 30 that its own IT systems and flight operations remained unaffected.
Japan Airlines reported that approximately 92,000 customer records were affected by unauthorized access to Amadeus systems.
2018
Family governance and chaebol criticism
Further incidents involving members of the controlling family intensified criticism of Korean Air’s governance, workplace culture and the broader chaebol system.
2014
Nut rage incident
Cho Hyun-ah ordered a Korean Air aircraft back to its gate after a dispute over how nuts were served and the handling of a flight attendant. She resigned from relevant duties and was later arrested and prosecuted under South Korean aviation laws.
1999
Safety record and operating-culture crisis
A succession of serious accidents and incidents made Korean Air a prominent target of international safety criticism. Partner airlines suspended or reconsidered cooperation, and South Korean aviation oversight was also criticized. The company later implemented extensive training, technology, fleet and cultural reforms.