Now that’s a weird thing. Someone has taken over the inflight PA on an AA flight and played some orgasm noises the whole flight…

https://twitter.com/waxpancake/status/1573343497188671489?s=46&t=C9y5bmqH3YtnK7zruvgbJA

Are they part of the mile high club now?

It sounds like a CPAP/ snoring.

In the Twitter thread there is at least one mention of it happening on another flight too. Interesting. Given the nature of IFE software and hardware development I wouldn't be surprised if there were some holes waiting to be discovered...

Cuba syndrome on a plane.

If it had been one of several DC/MDs, a 400Hz tone would have been part of it all. Thank goodness for small mercies.

WesternDC6B wrote:

If it had been one of several DC/MDs, a 400Hz tone would have been part of it all. Thank goodness for small mercies.

It’s funny it’s missed now that it’s gone.

CATIIIevery5yrs wrote:

WesternDC6B wrote:

If it had been one of several DC/MDs, a 400Hz tone would have been part of it all. Thank goodness for small mercies.

It’s funny it’s missed now that it’s gone.

I miss it like I’d miss a swollen appendix.

Sounds like someone straining to drop the browns off in the Superbowl

AA stated it was an issue with the PA amplifier. I'm having a hard time finding an explanation in my head that would make that make sense.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32958319

Some ideas and suggestions about what might be causing it.

alasizon wrote:

AA stated it was an issue with the PA amplifier. I'm having a hard time finding an explanation in my head that would make that make sense.

I don't get it either. Both the 737 and A320 families still use their analog PA and interphone systems from the '80s, so I don't see how these could have been "hacked", unless the IFE system handles the safety message files and other recordings and someone took it over.

SEAorPWM wrote:

alasizon wrote:

AA stated it was an issue with the PA amplifier. I'm having a hard time finding an explanation in my head that would make that make sense.

I don't get it either. Both the 737 and A320 families still use their analog PA and interphone systems from the '80s, so I don't see how these could have been "hacked", unless the IFE system handles the safety message files and other recordings and someone took it over.

I don't believe it was hacked but I'm having a hard time thinking of a legitimate malfunction with the amplifier that could cause this issue.

WesternDC6B wrote:

CATIIIevery5yrs wrote:

WesternDC6B wrote:

If it had been one of several DC/MDs, a 400Hz tone would have been part of it all. Thank goodness for small mercies.

It’s funny it’s missed now that it’s gone.

I miss it like I’d miss a swollen appendix.

BBBbWWEEEWWWwwwwoooooooo!

WesternDC6B wrote:

If it had been one of several DC/MDs, a 400Hz tone would have been part of it all. Thank goodness for small mercies.

Very good point, also the DC-9s engine ignitors whoop whoop whoop over the PA when pushing back

Andrew
JFK/MEM/MCI/SYR/ABQ/

Maybe it was the "Airbus barking dogs" moaning and growling?

This was legitimately funny, i had a good laugh on this one. I just cant understand how the PA system was hacked if the crew was not in on it. Maybe a disgruntled technician hacked it before the flight? This was a first.

I’d wager a week’s pay it was the pilots. If anyone has ever been on guard 121.5, this is the same garbage you hear in addition to cat meows, and political statements.

Obviously Human.
There are hundreds of meters of analog audio cabling and the number of connection points mere centimeters from people is probably also in the hundreds. If you find an unbalanced point in the system you can do it by simple induction.
If it is remotely accessible, it is extremely easy to connect into analog audio lines. As it should, there aren’t really any way to exploit this as anything more than a prank.

What was that tone, anyway?

WesternDC6B wrote:

If it had been one of several DC/MDs, a 400Hz tone would have been part of it all. Thank goodness for small mercies.

M564038 wrote:

What was that tone, anyway?

WesternDC6B wrote:

If it had been one of several DC/MDs, a 400Hz tone would have been part of it all. Thank goodness for small mercies.

The sound of the electrical system bleeding through into the PA system. Someone forgot a bypass capacitor in a circuit somewhere.

It was in the NY Post today. https://nypost.com/2022/09/26/bizarre-n ... -intercom/

You really have to listen to it.

Weird that:
(1) It sounds so human; and
(2) It only has been reported to happen on AA from LAX.

Explanation sounds bogus.

wjcandee wrote:

It was in the NY Post today. https://nypost.com/2022/09/26/bizarre-n ... -intercom/

You really have to listen to it.

Weird that:
(1) It sounds so human; and
(2) It only has been reported to happen on AA from LAX.

Explanation sounds bogus.

It's likely a pilot.

twinotter wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

It was in the NY Post today. https://nypost.com/2022/09/26/bizarre-n ... -intercom/

You really have to listen to it.

Weird that:
(1) It sounds so human; and
(2) It only has been reported to happen on AA from LAX.

Explanation sounds bogus.

It's likely a pilot.

Just looking over some AA 321 material, what about the not-widely-publicized "medical emergency intercom" jacks that apparently are hidden in the overheads on the 321, Great idea, I guess, but someone could perhaps plug a small device into one of them inconspicuously and create this. It also sounds like it may be happening on a specific tail #, which would be consistent with something like this.

AA's explanation so far seems like complete BS.

twinotter wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

It was in the NY Post today. https://nypost.com/2022/09/26/bizarre-n ... -intercom/

You really have to listen to it.

Weird that:
(1) It sounds so human; and
(2) It only has been reported to happen on AA from LAX.

Explanation sounds bogus.

It's likely a pilot.

Tbh, my money is on a ground handler. They’re usually younger, underpaid, and they often have a fair bit of time hanging around in the hold waiting for last minute bags.

For an Airbus, you would need to hack the complete CIDS and the related CAM. And CIDS is like an octopus. It is everywhere. Strange.

wjcandee wrote:

twinotter wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

It was in the NY Post today. https://nypost.com/2022/09/26/bizarre-n ... -intercom/

You really have to listen to it.

Weird that:
(1) It sounds so human; and
(2) It only has been reported to happen on AA from LAX.

Explanation sounds bogus.

It's likely a pilot.

Just looking over some AA 321 material, what about the not-widely-publicized "medical emergency intercom" jacks that apparently are hidden in the overheads on the 321, Great idea, I guess, but someone could perhaps plug a small device into one of them inconspicuously and create this. It also sounds like it may be happening on a specific tail #, which would be consistent with something like this.

AA's explanation so far seems like complete BS.

The medical consult jack is pretty obvious when it’s in use and is usually right by the rear galley, FA’s definitely would have noticed that. I’ve sat under it before when it’s in use and the cord dangles across your row.

WkndWanderer wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

twinotter wrote:

It's likely a pilot.

Just looking over some AA 321 material, what about the not-widely-publicized "medical emergency intercom" jacks that apparently are hidden in the overheads on the 321, Great idea, I guess, but someone could perhaps plug a small device into one of them inconspicuously and create this. It also sounds like it may be happening on a specific tail #, which would be consistent with something like this.

AA's explanation so far seems like complete BS.

The medical consult jack is pretty obvious when it’s in use and is usually right by the rear galley, FA’s definitely would have noticed that. I’ve sat under it before when it’s in use and the cord dangles across your row.

I think the theory people had is that the prankster would've attached their own device into the medical consult jack, so that it wasn't as visible.

No. There is plenty of oportunity for simple electromagnetic induction.

JLGordon wrote:

For an Airbus, you would need to hack the complete CIDS and the related CAM. And CIDS is like an octopus. It is everywhere. Strange.