GAO Warns FAA Air Traffic Systems Can Be Intercepted or Impersonated

A Government Accountability Office report says the Federal Aviation Administration must strengthen the security of communications between air traffic controllers and commercial aircraft, warning that current systems can be intercepted, impersonated, or jammed. The FAA has not completed required risk assessments, lacks real-time detection for some spectrum threats, and oversees communication systems developed before modern encryption safeguards. Hackers or foreign governments could send fraudulent instructions, including fake clearance cancellations, potentially causing delays, airspace disruptions, or safety risks. Senator Ron Wyden called the vulnerabilities a threat to national security and passenger safety, while the FAA said it agrees with the GAO’s nine recommendations and acknowledged growing cyber and electromagnetic risks to aviation systems.