Delta investigating after someone set up fake Wi-Fi network mid-flight
Delta Air Lines is investigating an incident where a passenger created a fake Wi-Fi network on a flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta. The airline confirmed that aircraft systems remained secure and the flight was not compromised.
Why it matters
The incident highlights potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities in public and in-flight wireless networks.
An unidentified passenger allegedly created a fake Wi-Fi network on a Delta flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta on Monday, prompting pilots to alert air traffic control, according to the airline and public broadcasts from the plane.
“[The] safety of flight was never in question and no aircraft operating systems were affected,” Delta spokesperson Morgan Durrant told TechCrunch, adding that the in-flight network was not compromised.
“We are fully investigating to gather a complete set of facts, which will take time. We will partner with federal law enforcement and aviation regulators to ensure the incident is thoroughly investigated,” the spokesperson said.
The flight crew turned off the aircraft’s legitimate Wi-Fi network for around 30 minutes due to the incident.
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