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US aircraft communications with FAA 'incredibly insecure,' senator says
reuters.com • • world
Key Points:
- A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals that communications between US air traffic controllers and commercial airplanes are highly insecure, vulnerable to interception, impersonation, and jamming.
- The FAA has not completed necessary risk assessments or updated security measures to address spoofing and jamming threats, and lacks real-time detection capabilities for spectrum-related threats.
- Senator Ron Wyden warned that these vulnerabilities could be exploited by hackers or foreign governments, potentially causing flight delays, airspace disruptions, and safety risks.
- The FAA acknowledged the GAO's nine recommendations and highlighted increasing cyber and electromagnetic risks as aviation systems become more interconnected.
- Similar jamming incidents have been reported in Europe, with Estonia and Finland accusing Russia of GPS interference, which Moscow denies.
