A government watchdog on Monday said the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration must take new steps to address threats to aircraft communication, including spoofing and jamming.

The Air Traffic Control tower at Ronald Reagan International Airport in Arlington, Virginia, March 15, 2026. REUTERS/Aaron Schwartz

The Government Accountability Office said the FAA has not completed risk assessments and updated security documentation needed to address spoofing and jamming threats, and does not have a real-time detection capability for all spectrum-related threats.

The report said hackers could transmit fraudulent clearance cancellations potentially leading to flight delays or safety issues.