A computer expert could be facing prosecution as recent court documents reveal that the alleged hacker was able to tap into in-flight systems aboard an airplane and control its movements.

An affidavit reveals that computer engineer Chris Roberts told FBI investigators earlier this year that he hacked airplanes approximately 15 to 20 times from 2011 to 2014. Although Roberts told WIRED in an interview that he had only explored the aircrafts' networks and the data passing through, he reportedly admitted to the FBI that he had also briefly commandeered one of the flights. Roberts was able to achieve access to the systems via "a simple plug, installed beneath the seats of many commercial planes, to tap into in-flight entertainment systems" according to the Washington Post.

"He stated that he successfully commanded the system he had accessed to issue the 'CLB' or climb command," reads a statement signed by FBI agent Mike Hurley. "He stated that he thereby caused one of the airplane engines to climb resulting in a lateral or sideways movement of the plane during one of these flights."

The affidavit was first obtained and reported by Canadian news outlet APTN, which reports that Roberts exploited vulnerabilities in the Boeing 737-800, 737-900 and 757-200 airplanes as well as the Airbus A-320s.

Roberts denies any malicious intent and maintains that his goal was to study and ultimately point out flaws in aircraft security systems.

"Over last 5 years my only interest has been to improve aircraft security...given current situation I've been advised against saying much," Roberts tweeted soon after the affidavit was made public.

"Sorry it's so generic, but there's a whole 5 years of stuff that the affidavit incorrectly compressed into 1 paragraph...lots to untangle," he wrote in another tweet.

Roberts has squared off with airlines in the past, having been removed from a United flight in Syracuse, New York after joking on Twitter that he could deploy the oxygen masks.

Aircraft security has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Around 50 American Airlines flights were recently delayed due to a bug in an iPad flight-navigation app that could only be fixed by getting closer to the airport's Wi-Fi.

"According to cybersecurity experts we interviewed, Internet connectivity in the cabin should be considered a direct link between the aircraft and the outside world, which includes potential malicious actors," reads a report by the Government Accountability Office.

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