Flight Deck Barriers Are Critical for Security

Flight deck barriers protect airliners from security threats, yet gaps remain—passenger aircraft need secondary barriers, and cargo aircraft lack intrusion-resistant doors entirely.

It's Time to Secure Aircraft Flight Decks

The 9/11 attacks exposed a major vulnerability in airline security: inadequate flight deck protection. In response, Congress mandated hardened flight deck doors on passenger aircraft to prevent unauthorized access. But these doors must still be opened during flight, creating a security risk. Meanwhile, a glaring security gap remains in all-cargo operations, where intrusion-resistant doors are not required at all.

Passenger Aircraft: Further Protection Needed

Hardened flight deck doors improved security, but they are not a complete solution. A security device known as a "secondary barrier" is needed to prevent hostile individuals from reaching the flight deck any time the hard door is open during flight.

Secondary Barriers Ensure the Flight Deck Remains Secure at All Times

These lightweight, retractable security gates remain deployed when the flight deck door is opened in flight, ensuring continued protection for pilots, passengers, and crew.

After years of stalling, the FAA recently finalized a rule requiring secondary barriers on newly manufactured commercial airline passenger aircraft. But this regulation does not apply to existing aircraft, leaving many planes unprotected.

In May 2024 Congress passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. Section 350 of the legislation requires the FAA to:

Convene an aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) to review and develop findings and recommendations to require installation of a secondary cockpit barrier on commercial passenger aircraft operated under the provisions of Part 121 that are not captured under another regulation or proposed regulation.
Not later than 12 months after the convening of the ARC, the FAA shall submit to Congress a report based on the ARC's findings and recommendations.
Not later than 36 months after the date of the submission of the report to Congress, the FAA shall, taking into consideration the final reported findings and recommendations of the ARC, issue a final rule requiring installation of a secondary cockpit barrier on each commercial passenger aircraft operated under the provisions of Part 121.

All-Cargo Aircraft: A Dangerous Oversight

Unlike passenger aircraft, cargo flights are not required to have intrusion-resistant flight deck doors, despite carrying crewmembers and non-flight personnel onboard. Without these protections, cargo flights remain vulnerable to security threats, including hijacking attempts and insider attacks.

Legislation is needed to close this security gap and mandate hardened flight deck doors on all-cargo aircraft. Congress must act to ensure cargo pilots, and their payload, receive the same level of protection as their passenger airline counterparts.

Flight Deck Security Incidents

September 11, 2001

Four commercial aircraft were hijacked by terrorists, leading to nearly 3,000 deaths. The attacks exposed the need for stronger flight deck security, resulting in a mandate for hardened flight deck doors on passenger aircraft.

Image: B6019~11 by rds323

Ongoing

Since September 11, 2001, at least 52 hijacking attempts have occurred worldwide. U.S. government officials continue to confirm that aviation remains a target for terrorist activity, highlighting the persistent threat of hijackings. Additionally, there has been a significant increase in unruly passenger events and events involving attempted breach of the flight deck since the pandemic.

Flight Deck Barriers FAQ

Flight deck barriers provide critical protection against unauthorized access, yet gaps in current regulations leave many aircraft vulnerable.

Hardened flight deck doors were mandated after 9/11 to prevent unauthorized access to the flight deck, but they aren’t enough on their own. Pilots must periodically open the flight deck door for operational needs, such as using the bathroom or receiving meals. This creates a vulnerable moment where an attacker could attempt to breach the flight deck.

A secondary flight deck barrier is a lightweight, retractable security gate installed between the flight deck and the passenger cabin. It acts as an added layer of protection, preventing a hostile individual from rushing the flight deck when the main door is open.

Some U.S. airlines have already installed secondary barriers voluntarily, and the FAA finalized a rule requiring them on newly manufactured passenger aircraft. However, this requirement was not applicable to the thousands of existing aircraft currently in service, leaving a major security gap. ALPA successfully advocated for legislation to require secondary barriers on all airline aircraft.
Inconsistent regulations have led to gaps in flight deck security. While hardened flight deck doors have been mandatory on passenger aircraft for decades, secondary barriers were never required. Some airlines voluntarily installed them, recognizing their effectiveness, but there was no universal standard.

In 2018, Congress directed the FAA to require secondary barriers on newly built aircraft, but it took five years for the agency to issue the final rule. Even now, the rule only applies to new aircraft, meaning that thousands of in-service passenger planes lack this critical protection.
Unlike passenger airlines, most all-cargo aircraft do not have hardened flight deck doors or other protections in place. This creates a significant security risk. There is a common misconception that all-cargo operations do not carry passengers, yet cargo flights carry non-flightcrew personnel, such as animal handlers, who have direct access to the flight deck.

The Cargo Flight Deck Security Act would close this loophole by requiring all-cargo aircraft to have the same security protections as passenger aircraft, including hardened flight deck doors. Without this, cargo pilots remain vulnerable to security threats while operating flights.
Retrofitting aircraft with secondary flight deck barriers is a low-cost solution that provides a high level of security.

Secondary barriers do not require complex maintenance or operational changes, making them a cost-effective way to enhance security without disrupting airline operations. ALPA and security experts agree that the benefits of installing these barriers far outweigh the costs, and Congress must act to ensure that all aircraft are equipped with this essential safety measure.

ALPA Recommends: Strengthen Flight Deck Security

Hardened flight deck doors on passenger airliners were a major step forward after 9/11, but they aren’t enough. Without secondary barriers, flight deck security remains incomplete.

We are calling on the FAA to reject attempts to delay critical flight deck security measures and implement, without delay, the secondary barrier requirement for all commercial passenger airline aircraft as mandated by Congress in Section 350 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.

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Pilot Voices

Ensuring that no terrorist—domestic or international—breaches another aircraft flight deck door again should be one of this nation's highest security priorities.

Capt. Jason Ambrosi, Delta Air Lines

ALPA President

We Advocate for Pilots

Learn more about key issues and how you can support our mission.

All Advocacy Issues

Flight Deck Barriers Are Critical for Security

It's Time to Secure Aircraft Flight Decks

Passenger Aircraft: Further Protection Needed

Secondary Barriers Ensure the Flight Deck Remains Secure at All Times

All-Cargo Aircraft: A Dangerous Oversight

Flight Deck Security Incidents

Flight Deck Barriers FAQ

ALPA Recommends: Strengthen Flight Deck Security

News & Insights

ALPA Calls on FAA to Reject Attempts to Delay Critical Flight Deck Security Measures

ALPA’s Premier Aviation Safety Conference Honors Pilots, Highlights Issues Facing Industry

ALPA President Urges Other Airlines to Follow Southwest's Lead on Secondary Barriers

ALPA Statement on FAA Delay of Secondary Barriers

ALPA Calls on FAA to Reject Attempts to Delay Critical Flight Deck Security Measures

ALPA Blasts Attempt to Delay Critical Flight Deck Security Measure

Pilot Voices

We Advocate for Pilots

ATC Modernization