Delta investigating after someone set up fake Wi-Fi network mid-flight
Delta Air Lines is investigating an incident where an unidentified passenger created a fake Wi-Fi network on a flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta, forcing the crew to temporarily disable the aircraft's official internet.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- An unidentified passenger set up a fake Wi-Fi network on a Delta flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta.
- Delta and airline representatives confirmed aircraft safety and systems were never affected.
- The flight crew turned off legitimate in-flight Wi-Fi for about 30 minutes.
- Pilots noted passengers included attendees from cybersecurity conferences in Las Vegas.
Delta Air Lines is currently investigating a concerning incident in which an unidentified passenger allegedly established a rogue Wi-Fi network aboard a flight travelling from Las Vegas to Atlanta on Monday. The situation prompted the flight deck to alert air traffic control during the journey.
Morgan Durrant, a spokesperson for Delta, told TechCrunch that the safety of the flight was never in question and no aircraft operating systems were impacted by the stunt. Durrant also added that the airline's official 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.”
Morgan Durrant, Delta Spokesperson
As a precaution, the flight crew shut down the aircraft's legitimate Wi-Fi network for approximately 30 minutes while dealing with the disruption. The pilots admitted they lacked further details regarding the perpetrator, though they mentioned that several passengers on board had recently attended cybersecurity conferences held in Las Vegas the previous week.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Setting up a counterfeit or malicious Wi-Fi network in an enclosed space like an airplane cabin is often facilitated by commercially available hardware tools such as a Wi-Fi Pineapple. While these devices are legally marketed to professional security auditors and hobbyists, they pose significant risks in public transit settings by enabling potential credential harvesting or man-in-the-middle attacks against unsuspecting passengers connecting to what they believe is the official network.
Following the event, the Atlanta Police Department deferred inquiries to federal authorities. Steve Kulm, a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration, stated that the agency had not yet received a formal report regarding the incident, while the FBI did not immediately respond to media requests for comment.
Source: TechCrunch
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