rickair7777

I've flown two planes where the ACARS is integrated with the FMS, at least the control head.

Unfortunately I see where you're headed with this. If there's a physical path for the electrons, a good enough software person can probably find a way in. Direct remote control would be unlikely, insertion of a malignant subroutine more feasible.

But that would require very specialized knowledge of the exact gear involved...I doubt the bad guys have anybody with that experience. The vast majority of black hat hackers would draw the line at helping some shadowy entity hack an airliner's control system. They're crooks but not typically mass murders, and they know the inevitable response to that ping will be delivered not virtually but in person...they don't want a leading role in the next navy SEAL movie.