Purdue University said Tuesday the computer program is capable of tracing a pathogen to the specific seat where it was first released into the cabin whether it was intentional or inadvertent.

"The goal is to be able to track the source if a person released a biological agent, such as anthrax, or inadvertently released a pathogen such as pandemic flu by sneezing, for example," Engineering Professor Qingyan Chen said in a statement.

The system is based on a series of sensors installed inside an airliner that detects the presence of germs in the cabin air. Using a series of mathematical models, the system can follow the substance to an area the size of a single seat and identify the individual passenger who was the point of origin so they can either be arrested or taken for medical care.

The concept is called "inverse simulation" and makes use of data including airflow patterns and the temperature inside the cabin. Chen said the process currently requires several days of computing time. Purdue's goal is to get that down to one day and also develop a monitoring system that will immediately alert the plane's cockpit crew whenever a pathogen is detected in the cabin.