Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Man Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Question

nytimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 213 posts

Re: Man Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Question

#71

Post by cncrnd »

aaronmck wrote: post #62

The article title seems like an overreaction to a really sad situation. We have to trust at least someone, and although he clearly had some issues (maybe recent), he wasn't out to hurt anyone or aligned with any groups that wanted to inflict harm. Fighter jets were there immediately, people tried to talk him down, and he was lost. Nothing better could have been done all around. Yes, commercial planes could be keycode…

Hmm I don't think it's that much of a headache to have some PIN code provided to pilots as an additional measure.

These planes aren't cheap, even a small personal jet is in the low millions. A Boeing 747 or similar is in the hundreds of millions.

Re: Man Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Question

#72

Post by h4b4n3r0 »

cncrnd wrote: post #71
aaronmck wrote: post #62

The article title seems like an overreaction to a really sad situation. We have to trust at least someone, and although he clearly had some issues (maybe recent), he wasn't out to hurt anyone or aligned with any groups that wanted to inflict harm. Fighter jets were there immediately, people tried to talk him down, and he was lost. Nothing better could have been done all around. Yes, commercial planes could be keycode…

Hmm I don't think it's that much of a headache to have some PIN code provided to pilots as an additional measure. These planes aren't cheap, even a small personal jet is in the low millions. A Boeing 747 or similar is in the hundreds of millions.

Yeah, a freakin _ignition key_ would have made this whole thing impossible.

Re: Man Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Question

#73

Post by Toenex »

h4b4n3r0 wrote: post #72
cncrnd wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm I don't think it's that much of a headache to have some PIN code provided to pilots as an additional measure. These planes aren't cheap, even a small personal jet is in the low millions. A Boeing 747 or similar is in the hundreds of millions.

Yeah, a freakin _ignition key_ would have made this whole thing impossible.

Unless of course as an employee he had access to one.

Re: Man Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Question

#74

Post by h4b4n3r0 »

beenBoutIT wrote: post #44

It's really nice to see American Air Supremacy in response to a potential terrorist air threat. Neutralizing the stolen plane with a Sidewinder missile would have provided a slightly better show of force to would-be terrorists, but this was pretty good IMO. Our Air Force is more powerful than it's ever been, while our mental health system was better off back in the 1940s.

Had the guy been a terrorist, he could have flown that plane into Seattle or into SeatTac airport itself. They wouldn't get here in time because they were flying in from Portland. We all got lucky this time.

Re: Man Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Question

#75

Post by ghshephard »

aaronmck wrote: post #62

The article title seems like an overreaction to a really sad situation. We have to trust at least someone, and although he clearly had some issues (maybe recent), he wasn't out to hurt anyone or aligned with any groups that wanted to inflict harm. Fighter jets were there immediately, people tried to talk him down, and he was lost. Nothing better could have been done all around. Yes, commercial planes could be keycode…

The articles I've read said indicate that a "Taxi Capable" employee would be empowered to start up the aircraft, so it's not even clear whether security precautions would be relevant here.

Re: Man Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Question

#76

Post by h4b4n3r0 »

Toenex wrote: post #73
h4b4n3r0 wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, a freakin _ignition key_ would have made this whole thing impossible.

Unless of course as an employee he had access to one.

Well, require that only pilots have access to the key then.

Re: Man Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Question

#78

Post by toyg »

ethbro wrote: post #12
abhiminator wrote: post #3

> Mr. Russell stole a plane from the airport and flew it for about an hour before it crashed. (emphasis mine) Wonder why Air National Guard's scrambled F-15s [0] didn't engage and bring the plane down before the individual commandeering the prop -- Mr. Russell -- brought the aircraft down with himself in the Ketron Island. IIRC, the plane flew over several densely populated areas before going down, and I can imagine…

Because aside from not being trained to fly an aircraft, the pilot didn't seem to have any murderous intent. Killing an American citizen who is not presenting an immediate threat still needs a higher bar than "It's easier." Thankfully, the military pilots stayed cool in a situation like this and waited until they received orders to fire.

This. It’s like the situation with police shooting at people reaching for documents in the glovebox - presumption or fear should not be enough to deploy lethal force. Authorities should always strive to reach the best scenario, i.e. everyone safe and sound including perps. This is particularly true in situations where the perp shows clear signs of mental illness.

Re: Man Who Stole Plane Near Seattle Raises Troubling Security Question

#79

Post by cookingrobot »

h4b4n3r0 wrote: post #76
Toenex wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless of course as an employee he had access to one.

Well, require that only pilots have access to the key then.

Or let air traffic control diasable any plane while it’s taxiing.
Post reply on HN