Posted on 05/16/2015 5:05:33 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
A well-known U.S. hacker told F.B.I. agents he took momentary control of an airplane’s engines mid-flight by hacking into its inflight entertainment system, according to a document filed in U.S. federal court and obtained by APTN National News.
Roberts, who has been interviewed at least three times by the F.B.I. this year, is under investigation for allegedly hacking into the electronic entertainment systems of airplanes, according to an application for a search warrant to probe seized electronic equipment.
The document shows F.B.I. agents investigating Roberts believe he has the ability to do what he claims: take over flight control systems by hacking the inflight entertainment computer.
Roberts has not yet been charged with any crime. The allegations contained in the search warrant application have not been proven in court.
Roberts is the founder of One World Labs and he is widely viewed as an expert on counter threat cyber security.
F.B.I. agents obtained the search warrant on April 17 to probe a number of electronic items seized from Roberts after he arrived in Syracuse, NY, from Chicago on April 15. Roberts had posted a joke tweet earlier in the day while on a United Airlines flight between Denver and Chicago. The tweet referred to hacking into the airplane’s in-flight entertainment and passenger oxygen mask system.
During two interviews with F.B.I. agents in February and March of this year, Roberts said he hacked the inflight entertainment systems of Boeing and Airbus aircraft, during flights, about 15 to 20 times between 2011 and 2014. In one instance, Roberts told the federal agents he hacked into an airplane’s thrust management computer and momentarily took control of an engine, according to an affidavit attached to the application for a search warrant.
“He stated that he successfully commanded the system he had accessed to issue...
(Excerpt) Read more at aptn.ca ...
FLy sideways?
...
I think it’s called a skid, and while the plane is still flying mostly forward, it’s also flying a little bit sideways too. I’m reminded of that crash in New York where the copilot over controlled with the rudder and the vertical stab snapped off.
That’s nothing. I made a 737 do a barrel roll by manipulating the flush pushbutton and my cell phone at the same time.
That’s called “crabbing” into the wind. That’s not flying sideways.
Really? Why would they want to take on the extra expense and risk?
#11 that is pretty neat but how did the pilot or “hacker” make the airplane disappear at the end?..... : )
Ping.
The boast is garbage. Passenger entertainment systems aren’t connected to flight systems.
This strikes me as highly improbable.
And if he was actually dicking with the flight controls of an airplane he was flying on, he’s profoundly moronic.
Flew into Nantucket once. It had just one runway so pilots can't line up with the wind. Chances of cross winds are always high there. The yaw and roll on a landing can be quite scary there.
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>> “ Passenger entertainment systems aren’t connected to flight systems.” <<
.
But he can dream!
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The feds seem to freaking out about this. I wonder if it could be true?
David Copperfield???
In large quantities!
I think the FBI fluff up their allegations. The hacker said the FBI are taking things discussed out of context.
No, that is what he was doing. Claiming a hack, makes him look like a white hat. Which is nonsense. He is a punk, and he didn’t do a thing except hack into the entertainment system. What an idiot.
You might be thinking of 'crabbing' which is forcing the aircraft to yaw, by the application of rudder. This is handy if you want to scrub off airspeed during landing. or the crosswind is shoving you sideways during landing. That's what the pilot is doing on the GIF.
Years back, there were two crashes of airliners where a hydraulic valve malfunctioned, slamming the rudder hard over. This sent the aircraft into an uncontrollable roll, and the pilot fought it all the way to the ground. He didn't make it.
But, sideways? Nope.
I assume you are talking about Airbus? That is a myth. Of course everything can be overridden by the pilots.
I think it’s true that the “hacker” has claims. The publicity helps his business.
I’d bet the FBI agents that handled this are clueless. But they must err on the side of caution.
I don’t think the hacker changed a commercial plane’s flight.
several years ago me and my dad flew into ontario ca airport after being held up in vegas due to bad weather in ca. On entry to ontario our flight was diverted 180 degrees to fly in to the airport from the opposite direction. Upon getting close to the actual runway on the way down, as i looked out the window it appeared the plane was flying somewhat sideways to the runway. i was looking somewhat toward the actual runway from the window. when we got down to a certain level the plane straightened out for the landing. It was the most exciting landing i have done other than princess juliana at st maarteen. where you hope there is land somewhere before you touch bottom.
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