A British Airways employee has denied accusations he plotted to blow up a transatlantic flight in an alliance with Islamist terrorists.

Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw alleged Bangladeshi-born Rajib Karim plotted to bomb New York bound flight with US-born extremist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

Rajib is further accused of communicating with terrorists based in Yemen and sending coded e-mails containing information on airline security.

“It will also become obvious he received a degree of terrorist training and, in particular, has become highly skilled in conducting secret communications,” Laidlaw told Woolwich Crown Court.

He denies the charges.

Rajib was employed at a British Airways call centre in Newcastle, where it is alleged he had sent information to al-Awlaki in Yemen.

Prosecutors allege he arrived in the UK in 2006 under instruction to find work which would assist future terrorist activities.

He was charged in March 2010.

al-Awlaki is himself wanted by authorities as he continues to exhort Muslims around the world to kill Americans.

He has also been linked to the Christmas Day 2009 attempt to bring down a Detroit-bound airliner.

The would-be bomber – later identified as Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab - had explosives sewn into his underwear.

The trial continues.