The Nintendo Switch (and now the Switch 2) is undoubtedly one of the most versatile consoles on the market. You can use it at home, on your couch, or take it along on a long flight. It's tempting to imagine playing Mario Kart or Zelda: Breath of the Wild mid-air to pass the time.
But there’s a major difference between playing in your seat and hacking an aircraft’s entertainment system to do so. That’s exactly what recently went viral: a group of young people managed to manipulate a plane’s screen to run an emulator and play Mario Kart. While social media found it amusing, in reality it’s a criminal offense—one that could lead to hefty fines or even prison time.
At TecnetOne, we want to explain what happened, the real risks involved, and why cybersecurity is never a joke—especially not at cruising altitude.
The Viral Incident: Mario Kart at 30,000 Feet
A video posted online showed two passengers interfering with the in-flight entertainment screen to run a game emulator and play Mario Kart.
What most people don’t realize is that these screens aren’t just simple monitors. While they’re technically isolated from the plane’s flight systems, they’re still part of the aircraft's digital network.
Tampering with them—even for “harmless” fun—is considered unauthorized access to a critical system.
What seems like harmless fun quickly escalates to a serious problem: it’s a breach of aviation security and, in technical terms, a cyberattack on a highly sensitive environment.
What Does Hacking a Plane Screen Involve?
In-flight entertainment systems are logically separate from cockpit systems, but they still form part of the aircraft’s digital ecosystem. Tampering with them has serious implications:
- Unauthorized interference: Even without affecting the cockpit, you're altering systems you’re not permitted to access.
- Potential vulnerabilities: A small flaw in one part of the system could be exploited to gain further access.
- Perceived threat: Any suspicious activity on a plane is taken very seriously by airlines and authorities.
- System instability: Even a software crash in the entertainment system could cause panic or operational delays.
Legal Consequences: Jail Time and Heavy Fines
Aviation law is clear: interfering with aircraft systems is a federal crime in many countries. In the U.S., this could mean up to 20 years in prison and fines exceeding $100,000.
In Europe and Latin America, penalties are also severe. It doesn’t matter if your goal was just to “have fun”—what matters is that you accessed a restricted system without authorization.
As one commenter on the viral video put it: “This is a criminal offense with huge fines and jail time.” And they’re absolutely right.
Similar titles: Possible Steam Hacking: Over 89 Million Users at Risk
The Risk to Passengers
Beyond legality, there’s the human aspect. A plane carries hundreds of people who trust everything is running smoothly. Tampering with any internal system—no matter how trivial—puts that trust and safety at risk.
Imagine the entertainment system crashes mid-flight and causes a minor electrical error. It may seem like nothing, but in an aircraft, any unexpected behavior can escalate to a serious threat.
Aviation Cybersecurity: A Growing Challenge
Modern aircraft are flying data centers with:
- In-flight entertainment systems
- Passenger WiFi
- Crew communications
- Navigation and control networks
That’s why aviation cybersecurity is a top priority. Manufacturers invest millions to isolate critical systems from entertainment networks—but attackers always look for new weaknesses.
What these young passengers did wasn’t just a prank—it was proof that the attack surface still exists. And that’s deeply concerning for both airlines and regulators.
Lessons Learned
First: never attempt to hack systems on a plane. Not for fun, not out of curiosity, and not to “test your skills.”
Second: this incident shows that humans remain the weakest link in cybersecurity. As long as people act without considering the consequences, organizations must be ready to detect, contain, and respond.
Learn more: Pentesting vs Ethical Hacking: Differences and Synergy
TecnetOne’s Role: Cybersecurity Without Guesswork
Just like planes have “critical systems,” so does your business. From servers to IoT devices, any access point can become an entry vector if not properly secured.
At TecnetOne, we provide security strategies that include:
- Continuous monitoring to detect unauthorized access.
- Vulnerability management to patch before hackers strike.
- Incident response plans to contain and eliminate threats quickly.
- Awareness training so your team understands their role in protecting digital infrastructure.
How We Help You Protect What Matters Most
Our approach goes beyond installing software and walking away. As trusted partners of top-tier solutions, we help you:
- Prevent attacks with advanced cybersecurity platforms
- Recover fast with immutable backups and instant restoration
- Stay compliant in regulated industries
- Reduce human risk with custom training programs
While others experiment out of curiosity, TecnetOne ensures your systems are locked down and resilient—so you don’t have to rely on luck.
Conclusion: Fun Has Limits
Playing Mario Kart on your Switch? Fantastic. Hacking a plane screen to do it? A federal crime that puts lives at risk.
This viral case reminds us that the line between digital mischief and real-world danger is razor-thin. Cybersecurity isn’t optional—not in the air, and certainly not in your business.
At TecnetOne, we help secure your systems and respond swiftly to incidents. Because peace of mind doesn’t come from being able to play anywhere—it comes from knowing your clients, data, and operations are safe.