[Red Badger]

This may enable the exploitation of network security vulnerabilities and increased risks potentially resulting in unsafe conditions for the airplanes and occupants. This potential exploitation of security vulnerabilities may result in intentional or unintentional destruction, disruption, degradation, or exploitation of data and systems critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane

The gist of it is: A passenger could possibly disable the aircraft electronic systems and take control, or pass control to a ground based operator.................................IRAN - CAPTURES US DRONE REMEMBER?..................

[Army Air Corps]

PING!

[WayneS]

It’d be a hoot to find out that some 15 year old hacker stole the airplane and landed it on his farm, or something.

[DannyTN]

Could China have taken control of the aircraft, turned off it’s signals, and flown it to a location where they can reverse engineer it?

[C210N]

I’m not buying the notion that a terrorist can hack into vital a/c systems via an internet link, especially one that provides entertainment to pax.

At the most, hacking could affect cockpit internet access, and could cripple passenger entertainment.

Aircraft flight systems ARE linked to an internet provider, but in one direction: supplying information. The internet provider has to know ground speed, lat/lon, and especially aircraft orientation so that it can keep its antenna pointed to internet-providing satellites. But, there is no path provided for the aircraft’s vital systems to get info from the internet.

[bigbob]

I agree this is troubling, more for what it doesn’t (for obvious reasons) say rather than for what it does. That there are communications networks, computers, servers, etc onboard should come as a surprise to no one. But that in no way implies that these systems were somehow access inflight. Not saying it’s impossible, just unlikely as hell. Anyone who’s worked around the aviation industry knows the kind of hoops manufacturers have to jump thru, not to mention CMMI Level V and all the rest of the standards that systems are designed and tested to.

[cripplecreek]

I’m not sure if I’m reading this correctly but if true, the plane was some 300 miles from where it should have been flying low in the wrong direction.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/03/11/major-updates-in-malaysia-airlines-mystery-new-information-could-change-everything/

[Sacajaweau]

Just pondering...We were on a DC 10 for our trip to Mexico. When the pilots got everything settled down and the plane was on auto pilot....the Captain walked down the aisle and spoke to each of us.

Now, since this is likely custom, it would be the best time to hijack a plane by grabbing the pilot with a knife to his throat cuz no one is going to jump the perp at this point.

The thing is somewhere. Any hostages are dead.

Sure is a puzzle...my guess is still a terrorist...with a suitcase.

[logi_cal869]

Sounds like a modern version of Airport ‘77.

Wonder what was in the cargo hold (or carryon...diamonds?)...