ImTheCaptain
I disagree with you
I don't know enough about the technology, but I assume the transponder, with time, could be hacked to make the plane appear as something other than what it is. If it looked like an expected flight on secondary radar (i.e. was displaying an expected tail #, speed, flight path, etc), air traffic controllers would be none the wiser. Or, going on the same theory about the disappearance, it would be possible to fly the plane along most any other route again "undetected" by following a legitimate flight. If it worked the first time, it should work again.
transponders only send a signal to attach to a radar contact. it does not send aircraft identification information. Pilots communicating with ground control state their transponder number along with flight and aircraft type when they initially contact ground control.
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