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Wireless Devices Could Foil Hijack Attempts

Posted by samzenpus on from the fly-the-scary-skies dept.

ErikPeterson writes Flight attendants soon may be outfitted with wireless devices that would be used to alert pilots of attempted hijackings or other in-air security threats. The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it plans to require that airlines provide a way for the cabin crew to "discreetly notify" pilots "in the event of suspicious activity or security breaches in the cabin." The proposed regulation, which is not yet final, grew out of an advisory panel that the Transportation Department created after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. That panel recommended that cabin crew have "a method for immediate notification to the flight deck during a suspected threat in the cabin" that would permit pilots to take appropriate action, such as beginning an immediate landing."

3 of 312 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Not so bad... by jbrader · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This sounds pretty good to me to but rather than blocking ot what if someone learns how to send fake signals. Instead of blowing up or hijacking planes a person could cause several to make emergency landings, thereby really screwing up air travel.

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  2. Re:How long until... by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 4, Interesting
    ...and starts sending false alarms?

    I think this could be worked around fairly easily. Heartbeat ping to cabin device with encoded id would do it. If the personal transponder stops signalling (or if they all do) have a look through one of the the aforementioned discretely-placed cabin-cams. Analogue-only alarm signals are so last century.

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  3. Re:Not so bad... by RubberDogBone · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It doesn't matter if the details published or not. Some of the 9/11 highjackers had gone to flight schools. They were familiar with the operation of the airliner and the crew. Secret procedures leak one way or another.

    Anyone concerned with highjacking another plane would probably know about "secret" tricks like wristbands or hidden alarm buttons.

    I think this is all kind of moot, however, because anyone highjacking an airliner these days is going to get beaten to death by angry passengers who have nothing to lose. The phrase "I have a knife, I am taking over this plane!" no longer has power.

    I do like that heart monitor idea: that would help the pilots keep tabs on the hot new flight attendant's vitals. ;)

    (I am not being a pig: there are female pilots and male flight attendants too.)

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