The FAA has notified employees that an agency computer was illegally accessed and employee personal identity information was stolen electronically. All affected employees will receive individual letters to notify them about the breach.

The FAA said it is moving quickly to prevent any similar incidents and has identified immediate steps as well as longer-term measures to further protect personal information.

The agency is also providing a toll-free number and information on the employee website for those who believe they may be affected by the breach.

Two of the 48 files on the breached computer server contained personal information about more than 45,000 FAA employees and retirees who were on the FAA’s rolls as of the first week of February 2006.

The server that was accessed was not connected to the operation of the air traffic control system or any other FAA operational system, and the FAA has no indication those systems have been compromised in any way.

Appropriate law enforcement agencies have been notified and are investigating the data theft.