Remote Control Attacks on Commercial Aircraft More Possible

Airplanes could be taken over by remote control and forced to crash with the use of newly invented computer software, according to an expert cited by the Brisbane Courier-Mail April 4. Cyber attacks are now viewed by industry specialists as the second-biggest risk to aviation behind natural disasters. Airline representatives were warned of the threat at the Asia-Pacific Aviation Security Conference in Hong Kong the week of March 28. The Australian cyber-security expert from Pure Hacking told the conference whole fleets of planes could be affected. The stereotypical Die Hard 2 airport attack, where aircraft controls can be taken over, is no longer just a movie script. It’s an actual reality, the expert said. Depending on what information was accessed ... the control of the aircraft themselves could be compromised.