Is In-Flight Internet A Terrorist Threat?Is In-Flight Internet A Terrorist Threat?

Could Internet access onboard an airplane facilitate a terrorist attack? That's the scary supposition that's making the rounds, in the wake of in Saturday's New York Times story noting the rise of in-flight wireless services like Aircell's Gogo, which'll let you Web-surf your way cross-country for only $12.95.According to the Times piece, the Association of Flight Attendants is concerned that "terrorists plotting a scheme on a plane could use Wi-Fi to communicate with one another on board and with conspirators on the ground."

"Right now, their ability to do that on board is limited," AFA spokeswoman Corey Caldwell told the paper. "But we can see an instance in which this becomes a potential threat."

How? Are terrorists sitting on the plane waiting for an in-bound e-mail reading "You go now." (Sorry, that wasn't very politically correct of me. )

Rationally speaking, as Glenn Fleishman points out in this excellent deconstruction of the Times story on Wi-Fi Net News:

The blunt truth is that, while in-flight Internet might make things marginally easier for the bad guys, all Americans know that any problems here pale next to the deficiencies of our TSA-run airport security system. Strip-searching grandmothers and taking away bottles of hair gel make us no safer today than we were pre-9/11. However, everyone knows this, yet as a country we remain incapable of doing anything about it, so it's pointless of me to rail any further. (Did someone mention Israeli-style airport profiling?)

Speaking of unreality, though, Fleischman also points out the nonsense behind the Times' story's reflexive repetition of the reason for the FAA's ban of on-board cellphone usage ("because they may interfere with a jet's navigation system"). The many folks who've illicitly made calls during takeoff and landing (and the many, many more who turn their devices on prior to "permission" from the flight attendants) know this is simply not true.

Not that cell usage can't get a little out of hand. On the 60 Minutes interview with USAirways Flight 1549 hero pilot "Sully" Sullenberger on Sunday night, the flight attendant in the rear of the plane said that after they hit the water, she noticed many of the passengers trying to make cellphone calls. Me, I would've gotten my butt out of there first.

Anyway, this is turning into one cranky Monday morning post. Before I close, though, I want to mention the real damage behind in-flight Internet, and it's one that's clearly -- and correctly -- noted in the Times article. Namely, as financial planner Brent Bigler (suspiciously close to the name of an infamous movie character) says in the story: "This could be the same thing as what happened with cellphones and BlackBerrys. Once it's cheap and ubiquitous, employers might expect employees to participate. I may feel guilty if it were a Monday and I napped or read and didn't use the Internet to do work."

What's your take? Let me know, by leaving a comment below or e-mailing me directly at [email protected].

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Alex Wolfe is editor-in-chief of information.com.