A top internet security expert, Chris Roberts, was on a United Airlines flight when he noticed a flaw in the airline's security system. The computer expert then took to Twitter to joke about the potential issue with the plane's Wi-Fi system, but instead of airline computer officials looking into the problem, they had Roberts detained by FBI agents upon landing for making a "threatening" tweet.
According to the International Business Times, Roberts was detained by FBI agents upon exiting the plane at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Roberts says that his electronics were confiscated and that after the questioning, he was released. Despite losing a few of his electronic devices, Roberts thought the ordeal was over. However, when he arrived to the airport yesterday to board a different United Airlines flight, he was denied entrance and told he was not allowed on the flight.
So what was the "threatening" tweet that Roberts sent that resulted in his flight ban and FBI detainment?
Find myself on a 737/800, lets see Box-IFE-ICE-SATCOM,? Shall we start playing with EICAS messages? "PASS OXYGEN ON" Anyone? :) — Chris Roberts (@Sidragon1) April 15, 2015
"United's refusal to allow Roberts to fly is both disappointing and confusing. As a member of the security research community, his job is to identify vulnerabilities in networks so that they can be fixed."
Bye bye electronics, all encrypted....and all now in custody/seized pic.twitter.com/a5o6rYTbZ0
— Chris Roberts (@Sidragon1) April 16, 2015
— Chris Roberts (@Sidragon1) April 16, 2015
Ok made it TO plane in Syracuse...now let's see what happens :-) still NO warrant, and no electronics..... pic.twitter.com/TX5aKxLO97
— Chris Roberts (@Sidragon1) April 17, 2015
— Chris Roberts (@Sidragon1) April 17, 2015
Note to self, don't get the new stuff confiscated or seized.... pic.twitter.com/TlIP5biKVY
— Chris Roberts (@Sidragon1) April 17, 2015
— Chris Roberts (@Sidragon1) April 17, 2015
[Image Credit: United Airlines]
