Small wonder the airline ws nervous...

[9 lives]

It seems he was not taking that advice he's probably paid to give!

Chris Roberts denied flight after tweeting about hacking onboard systems - World - CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/chris-roberts-denied-flight-after-tweeting-about-hacking-onboard-systems-1.3039660)

[ExXB]

I don't think the airline was nervous. They just knew that the media would pick up on this and lambast United for being dangerous.

I would seriously doubt that the FAA would allow airlines to install electronic equipment on aircraft that would allow unfettered access to airline systems. Every piece of equipment on a commercial airliner must be certified by regulators. They don't just head down to Radio Shack and throw something together.

United was right, this guy was trying to exploit United's reputation without any basis of fact (his tweets show his ignorance of how things work) for his own financial benefit.

[PAXboy]

United learnt the 'social media' game the hard way! (as in guitars)

[mixture]

Step Turn,

All this stuff of SLF hacking aircraft from the confines of their seat was discussed ad-infinitum in the murky depths of the MH370 thread.

Conclusion was that it was speculative drivel by people wearing tin-foil hats in the context of MH370, and there is little reason to suggest its not the same in this context either.

As ExXB says. Flight systems are heavily regulated, carefully programmed and air-gapped from the passenger WiFi network as well as external communications infrastructure.

[twb3]

Nevertheless, I think United was correct in denying boarding. To allow him on board after he claimed publicly the ability to hack the aircraft, however ludicrous the claim, would cause questions about United's commitment to security.