Delta investigates in-flight Wi-Fi spoofing on post-DEF CON flight from Las Vegas

Delta Airlines said Tuesday it’s investigating an incident on a Monday flight where a passenger reportedly used an unidentified device to spoof the airline’s in-flight Wi-Fi network, leading to severe delays and authorities to board the plane once it arrived at its destination.

Various posts on several social media networks went viral early Tuesday detailing the incident, claiming that passengers on Delta flight 591 from Las Vegas to Atlanta used an unidentified device to create a rogue Wi-Fi network that could be used to steal people’s sensitive data or personal information.

Messages from the plane’s Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) show that the crew informed personnel on the ground that a passenger set up a network called “Delta WiFi Fast” and was “trying to scam the other passengers.”

Morgan Durrant, a Delta spokesperson, told CyberScoop that the cabin crew deactivated the aircraft’s WiFi functionality for approximately 30 minutes, the flight’s safety was never in question and no aircraft operating systems were affected.

“We are fully investigating to gather a complete set of facts, which will take time,” Durrant told CyberScoop. “We will partner with federal law enforcement and aviation regulators to ensure the incident is thoroughly investigated. We thank our crew for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding.”