Several days ago I wrote about a strange thing going on with the intercoms of some American Airlines jets. Initially this was a total mystery, though clues are increasingly pointing in a certain direction…
Continue reading: Airplane Intercom Hacking: Mystery Solved?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Cross reference the flight manifests for each of the affected flights. Common pax or non rev?
A very simple way to debunk this myth is the next time this happens to you inflight, make a loud distinguished sound.
If the sound gets repeated, you get the suspect on board broadcasting live.
If the sound doesn't get repeated, it's a recording or some malfunction.
However, @JonNYC as a quite reliable figure. He may have already hinted about what 'really' happened.
- will be no more reports of this happening <- We caught the person(s) involved.
- will be solved <- Disciplinary action pending.
Seems like this could be easily solved by looking for common passengers across affected flights. Doesn't take Sherlock Holmes.
"these systems are hardwired with no external access"
I still don't know if this is true. I did some sleuthing because I find this whole thing weirdly fascinating. The Boeing 737 Operations manual states that the interphone system connects to various Audio Control Panels (ACPs) on the flight deck and at FA stations, and that "The audio systems are normally controlled by the
related ACPs through digital or computerized control circuits." If these are digital or computerized and connected to other electronics in the E/E bay, these would presumably be hackable in theory.
Agreed with the below commenter that the gist of JonNYC's update is: AA found the culprit and they are going to pursue discipline accordingly.
Let’s get Scooby doo on the case. In the mean time all non rev first class travel privileges are suspended until further notice.
It may be some sort of wireless device you can connect to a port for the intercom system. That way you can use it while not being next to the actual mic.
If it happens again I would suggest checking anyone coming out of the head after hearing these noises and maybe have a chat.
AA likely sent out the press release to state that it will not happen again. While I do not believe their explanation, I do believe they know what is going on and who is responsible. One reason AA won't want to disclose the reason is to prevent anyone from getting ideas to do this again.
I finally figured out where Ben’s bias for non revs and American Airlines employee came from. His upgrade didn’t clear into business class a couple weeks ago from MIA LAX. Geez aren’t any of you readers paying attention to this blog ? Get over it buddy. You still had to have been in premium economy.
Didn't Billy Idol say that first class passengers can do pretty much anything they want?
And who hasn't wanted to grab a handset at the grocery store and all call page for a cleanup on aisle 9? This was totally a passenger
When a friend sent this to me that’s what I thought glad someone confirmed my suspicions
I don't think there's a specific offense section for this (but if I'm wrong, please cite the specific provisions of law/regulation.)
Of course, the passenger can be (and probably was) banned from flying with AA - or as they call it, put on the "refuse list".