WUST's Dr. Touhid Bhuiyan collaborated with other cybersecurity professionals to research the recent concerns with cybersecurity and aviation safety. Dr. Bhuiyan, along with Md. Atiqur Rahman and M. Ameer Ali published their research in the Alexandria Engineering Journal (AEJ). The Alexandria Engineering Journal (AEJ), published by Elsevier on behalf of the Faculty of Engineering at Alexandria University, is a distinguished open-access journal in engineering and applied sciences.

Below is the official release from Dr. Bhuiyan from WUST's School of IT:

In less than the first two months of 2025, the world has witnessed 87 plane crash incidents. This alarming number highlights the urgent need for enhanced aviation safety measures, primarily through cutting-edge research.

Today, we are proud to announce the publication of our latest research paper on Aviation Safety. This study proposes an AI-powered (Machine Learning-based) system designed to detect a dangerous cyberattack known as the “ADS-B Injection Attack.”

Modern aircraft automatically transmit various critical flight data during operation, such as speed, altitude, and position, via a system called ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast). However, this system is vulnerable. Hackers can inject fake signals into this data stream, potentially misleading air traffic controllers and pilots and increasing the risk of catastrophic accidents.

Our research introduces an intelligent system that can detect these injected false signals in real-time, ensuring that malicious data does not mislead air traffic management systems. The goal is to minimize confusion in airspace communication and maximize passenger safety.

Key Highlights:
- Accuracy: 99.7%
- Works in real-time
- Highly effective in preventing aviation-related cyber incidents

This is a step toward building smarter and safer skies for future generations.

Read the full research article here:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2025.04.045