Qantas delays flight because of wifi network named "Detonation Device"

Cory Doctorow 7:24 am Fri May 6, 2016

QF481, from Melbourne to Perth, was delayed last week because a passenger spotted a wifi network called "Detonation Device."

The pilot announced that the flight wouldn't take off until the device broadcasting the ESSID was located. Passengers were given the chance to debark, and 40+ did. The flight was delayed by 2 hours.

Though some press accounts have called the wifi network name "terrifying", the West Australian had it perfectly right, calling it a prank in "poor taste."

It's hard to imagine a terrorist who would deliberately name their detonation device "detonation device," after all.

Passenger John Vidler said the captain broadcast a message to passengers telling them the flight was being delayed because a “device” was believed to be aboard that needed to be located.

“He said there was a device on the plane that had a name on it that he found threatening and that we were not leaving until that device was brought to him,” Mr Vidler said.

The device was not found and the plane was cleared for take-off.

But Mr Vidler said he and about 40 other travellers felt so unsettled by the experience they demanded to be let off the flight.

Poor-taste wi-fi name grounds Perth flight
[Grant Taylor/The West Australian]

(via JWZ)

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