If the hardware exists, and just because it is likely disabled (or not utilized) in software by the airlines, does not mean it cannot be enabled by a nefarious

If the hardware exists, and just because it is likely disabled (or not utilized) in software by the airlines, does not mean it cannot be enabled by a nefarious actor. Security researchers have shown it is possible to gain access to the on-board computer systems: https://thehackernews.com/2016/12/hacking-in-flight-system.html https://thehackernews.com/2016/12/hacking-in-flight-system.h... https://thehackernews.com/2014/08/airplanes-can-be-hacked-through_4.html https://thehackernews.com/2014/08/airplanes-can-be-hacked-th... And one man appears to have elevated that access to actually control the plane: https://www.wired.com/2015/05/feds-say-banned-researcher-commandeered-plane/ https://www.wired.com/2015/05/feds-say-banned-researcher-com... https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/17/us/fbi-hacker-flight-computer-systems/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/17/us/fbi-hacker-flight-computer... So, no, I don't think this is a distraction whatsoever. We have the capacity to cover both of these issues.