Passenger Creates Fake Wi-Fi Network on Delta Flight

A passenger on a Delta flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta allegedly created a fake Wi-Fi network, prompting the pilots to alert air traffic control, according to the airline and public broadcasts from the plane.

Flight Crew Takes Action

The flight crew turned off the aircraft's legitimate Wi-Fi network for around 30 minutes due to the incident. This decision was taken as a precautionary measure to prevent any potential security risks.

Once the crew became aware of the fake Wi-Fi network, the pilots sent two messages mid-flight to air traffic control. The pilots said a passenger "created a scam Wi-Fi" that was designed to impersonate the airplane's legitimate wireless network.

Investigation Underway

The incident has sparked a thorough investigation, with Delta partnering with federal law enforcement and aviation regulators to ensure the incident is thoroughly investigated. The airline has stated that the safety of the flight was never in question and no aircraft operating systems were affected.

• The Atlanta Police Department referred questions to federal authorities. Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Steve Kulm said the agency has not received a report about the incident.
• The FBI did not immediately respond to TechCrunch's request for comment.

Creating a Fake Wi-Fi Network

It's easy to set up a fake or malicious Wi-Fi network using commercially available tools like a Wi-Fi Pineapple, a hardware device designed for spoofing real-world networks. These devices are sold for professional security testers to audit companies' security, or for hobbyists who want to learn how to hack.

The incident highlights the potential risks of in-flight Wi-Fi networks and the need for airlines to ensure the security of their systems.

The investigation is ongoing, and it's unclear what the passenger or passengers were doing. However, it's clear that the incident has sparked concerns about the security of in-flight Wi-Fi networks.