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Security expert booted off flight for hacking tweet
A security researcher was banned from a flight after he tweeted that he might be able to hack the aircraft’s systems.
A week after TravelMole reported fears that hackers might be able to hijack an aircraft from a laptop computer, the BBC reported that United Airlines prevented a man from boarding a flight at Colorado after he claimed on Twitter that he thought he could deploy the oxygen masks on board.
United claimed it wasn’t concerned that its flight control systems could be accessed in the way he’d described, but it said ‘it was in the best interest of passengers and crew’ that he not be able to fly.
The security researcher, Chris Roberts, had been due to fly to San Francisco to talk at a major security conference.
Last Wednesday he was also 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 recently 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.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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