Thousands more Afghans affected by second data breach ministers say Politics News Sky News
pNames passport details and other information from up to 3700 Afghans brought to the UK between January and March 2024 have potentially been impacted after a cyber security breach at a third party supplier the MoD sayspp
Political correspondent
serenabarksing
ppSaturday 16 August 2025 0812 UKppThousands more Afghan nationals may have been affected by another data breach the government has saidppUp to 3700 Afghans brought to the UK between January and March 2024 have potentially been impacted as names passport details and information from the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy has been compromised again this time by a breach on a third party supplier used by the Ministry of Defence MoDppThis was not an attack directly on the government but a cyber security incident on a subcontractor named Inflite The Jet Centre an MoD supplier that provides ground handling services for flights at London Stansted AirportppppppPlease use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerppppThe flights were used to bring Afghans to the UK travel to routine military exercises and official engagements It was also used to fly British troops and government officialsppThose involved were informed of it on Friday afternoon by the MoD marking the second time information about Afghan nationals relocated to the UK has been compromisedppIt is understood former Tory ministers are also affected by the hackppEarlier this year it emerged that almost 7000 Afghan nationals would have to be relocated to the UK following a massive data breach by the British military that successive governments tried to keep secret with a superinjunctionppDefence Secretary John Healey offered a sincere apology for the first data breach in a statement to the House of Commons saying he was deeply concerned about the lack of transparency around the data breach adding No government wishes to withhold information from the British public from parliamentarians or the press in this mannerppPlease use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerppppBe the first to get Breaking NewsppInstall the Sky News app for freeppThe previous Conservative government set up a secret scheme in 2023 to relocate Afghan nationals impacted by the data breach but who were not eligible for an existing programme to relocate and help people who had worked for the British government in AfghanistanppThe mistake exposed personal details of close to 20000 individuals endangering them and their families with as many as 100000 people impacted in totalppRead more from Sky NewsData breach victims sent spam emailsAfghan data leak timelineMoD urged to reveal details of nuclear incidentpp
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
ppA government spokesperson said of Fridays latest breach We were recently notified that a thirdparty subcontractor to a supplier experienced a cyber security incident involving unauthorised access to a small number of its emails that contained basic personal informationppWe take data security extremely seriously and are going above and beyond our legal duties in informing all potentially affected individuals The incident has not posed any threat to individuals safety nor compromised any government systemsppIn a statement Inflite The Jet Centre confirmed the data security incident involving unauthorised access to a limited number of company emailsppWe have reported the incident to the Information Commissioners Office and have been actively working with the relevant UK cyber authorities including the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre to support our investigation and response it saidppWe believe the scope of the incident was limited to email accounts only however as a precautionary measure we have contacted our key stakeholders whose data may have been affected during the period of January to March 2024p
Political correspondent
serenabarksing
ppSaturday 16 August 2025 0812 UKppThousands more Afghan nationals may have been affected by another data breach the government has saidppUp to 3700 Afghans brought to the UK between January and March 2024 have potentially been impacted as names passport details and information from the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy has been compromised again this time by a breach on a third party supplier used by the Ministry of Defence MoDppThis was not an attack directly on the government but a cyber security incident on a subcontractor named Inflite The Jet Centre an MoD supplier that provides ground handling services for flights at London Stansted AirportppppppPlease use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerppppThe flights were used to bring Afghans to the UK travel to routine military exercises and official engagements It was also used to fly British troops and government officialsppThose involved were informed of it on Friday afternoon by the MoD marking the second time information about Afghan nationals relocated to the UK has been compromisedppIt is understood former Tory ministers are also affected by the hackppEarlier this year it emerged that almost 7000 Afghan nationals would have to be relocated to the UK following a massive data breach by the British military that successive governments tried to keep secret with a superinjunctionppDefence Secretary John Healey offered a sincere apology for the first data breach in a statement to the House of Commons saying he was deeply concerned about the lack of transparency around the data breach adding No government wishes to withhold information from the British public from parliamentarians or the press in this mannerppPlease use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerppppBe the first to get Breaking NewsppInstall the Sky News app for freeppThe previous Conservative government set up a secret scheme in 2023 to relocate Afghan nationals impacted by the data breach but who were not eligible for an existing programme to relocate and help people who had worked for the British government in AfghanistanppThe mistake exposed personal details of close to 20000 individuals endangering them and their families with as many as 100000 people impacted in totalppRead more from Sky NewsData breach victims sent spam emailsAfghan data leak timelineMoD urged to reveal details of nuclear incidentpp
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
ppA government spokesperson said of Fridays latest breach We were recently notified that a thirdparty subcontractor to a supplier experienced a cyber security incident involving unauthorised access to a small number of its emails that contained basic personal informationppWe take data security extremely seriously and are going above and beyond our legal duties in informing all potentially affected individuals The incident has not posed any threat to individuals safety nor compromised any government systemsppIn a statement Inflite The Jet Centre confirmed the data security incident involving unauthorised access to a limited number of company emailsppWe have reported the incident to the Information Commissioners Office and have been actively working with the relevant UK cyber authorities including the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre to support our investigation and response it saidppWe believe the scope of the incident was limited to email accounts only however as a precautionary measure we have contacted our key stakeholders whose data may have been affected during the period of January to March 2024p
