United Airlines booted a prominent security expert from a flight after he jokingly suggested on Twitter the airline’s onboard flight deck systems could easily be hacked.
Last week researcher Chris Roberts was detained by the FBI after he attempted to board a United flight from Denver and was questioned for several hours over the social media post.
His laptop and other electronic devices were seized according to Roberts’ lawyer.
The lawyer says Roberts was given no reason by United for barring him from the second United flight, but was told the airline would write to him detailing the reasons for not allowing travel.
"Given Mr. Roberts’ claims regarding manipulating aircraft systems, we’ve decided it’s in the best interest of our customers and crew members that he not be allowed to fly United," airline spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said.
"However, we are confident our flight control systems could not be accessed through techniques he described."
Roberts had given media interviews in the last few weeks detailing aircraft vulnerabilities.
He told CNN he has been able to get access to data from the aircraft’s engines, fuel and flight-management systems while aboard a plane.
"It is disappointing that United refused to allow him to board, and we hope that United learns that computer security researchers are a vital ally, not a threat," said Nate Cardozo, attorney at the San Francisco-based Electronic Frontier Foundation, which is representing Roberts.
