US federal authorities are investigating a network security incident that occurred earlier this week involving Delta Air Lines, where a false Wi-Fi network interfered with the flight, prompting the crew to temporarily shut down the internet service aboard the aircraft.
The incident took place on Monday, August 10, as Delta Air Lines Flight 591 was en route from Las Vegas, Nevada to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia.
In a statement provided to Fox News, Delta Air Lines confirmed that no aircraft systems were hacked during the incident, including the in-flight Wi-Fi. However, they acknowledged the presence of an unauthorized Wi-Fi network during the flight.
Out of an abundance of caution, the crew decided to deactivate the Wi-Fi feature on the Boeing 757 aircraft for approximately 30 minutes.
A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines mentioned, “Flight safety was never compromised, and aircraft operation systems were not affected. We are conducting a thorough investigation to gather all facts, which will take time.”
“We will collaborate with federal law enforcement and aviation regulatory authorities to ensure a comprehensive investigation of this incident,” the statement further read. “We appreciate the professionalism of the crew and the understanding of the passengers.”
According to information obtained from Airframes.io, an open aviation data network, the pilot of the aircraft informed air traffic control via text message that a passenger had “created a fraudulent Wi-Fi called ‘Delta Wifi Fast’.”
The pilot additionally remarked, “We believe they are attempting fraud.”
However, air traffic control did not declare an emergency situation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that they are aware of the situation and are conducting an investigation. Nonetheless, the aviation regulatory agency assured passengers that even if the onboard Wi-Fi system was compromised, it would not impact the aircraft’s safety systems during flight.