‘We’re still vulnerable to a 9/11-style attack’ without secondary cockpit barriers: Ex-FAA special agent

Almost years after there are still major safeguard risks on airplanes without secondary cockpit restrictions That s the urgent message from a former FAA special agent the widow of a pilot who was killed on September th and others who are pleading with airlines to install these life-protecting walls We still don t have secondary restrictions on aircraft and we won t have them for awhile retired FAA special agent Brian Sullivan narrated the Herald in the days before the th anniversary of The traveling residents demands to know that until they re installed on all aircraft we re still vulnerable to a -style attack Sullivan added We need passengers and crew to remain vigilant and prepared to react if necessary Don t be lulled into a false sense of prevention When a pilot has to exit the cockpit to use the bathroom the secondary barrier has been flight attendants standing in front of the cockpit entrance usually with their push cart Crew members and passengers in the absence of secondary cockpit obstacles have subdued unruly passengers and attempts to storm the cockpit Actual secondary cockpit limitations are retractable guard gates between the guest cabin and the hardened cockpit door blocking access to the flight deck while in the air Without these impediments airplanes remain at jeopardy for an attack according to advocates Terrorism awaits the flight deck every time the cockpit door opens revealed Ellen Saracini whose husband Captain Victor Saracini was the pilot of United Airlines Flight out of Logan Airport in Boston when it was hijacked and flown into the World Exchange Center It s not rocket science about what requirements to be done she added We keep on saying the flight deck is vulnerable but movement on this issue has been very slow The Saracini Aviation Safety Act signed into law back in will require secondary cockpit walls on all new commercial aircraft However the FAA lately released a delay in implementing mandatory flight deck secondary impediments on new planes pushing the compliance date back from a month ago August to July Also the Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act signed into law last year will eventually retrofit the entire fleet of old aircraft But that s not expected for quite several time The FAA granted a one-year exemption to install and use additional fences on new commercial airplanes to protect against unauthorized access to the flight deck the FAA commented in a report This will allow time to facilitate FAA certification and install the limitations Meanwhile Southwest Airlines in recent weeks became the first major airline to begin deploying secondary obstacles Its first aircraft equipped with the lightweight retractable barrier entered operation on Aug By the end of the year the airline expects a total of planes with the barrier For Southwest this was the right decision the airline noted in a message We have a robust Safety Management System that takes a proactive approach when it comes to enhancing Safety wherever achievable Related Articles Editorial years later lessons grow dim purgatory endured for decades takes a dramatic turn Major preeminence for families against Saudi Arabia now Boston al Qaeda terror cell can be probed Editorial trial a must From the Archives How Richard Reid s failed attack changed airport safety forever Southwest Airlines became the first major airline to begin deploying secondary flight deck limitations Matt Stone Boston Herald The president of the Air Line Pilots Association Int l ALPA is calling on other airlines to follow Southwest and implement the hindrances Southwest Airlines took a pivotal step towards advancing aviation safety and guard by becoming the first major air carrier to begin deploying secondary flight deck fences following the Congressional mandate mentioned Capt Jason Ambrosi I urge other airlines to follow Southwest s example and move expeditiously to utilize these life protecting devices mentioned Ambrosi adding There is no need to wait yet another year to begin to utilize secondary flight deck restrictions as Southwest has shown Do the right thing for the safety and prevention of the flying population and our flight crews No more excuses Since at least hijacking attempts have occurred around the world Also there has been a key increase in unruly rider incidents and attempted cockpit breaches since the pandemic Flight Attendants were the first to die years ago as terrorists wrestled their way into the flight deck reported Sara Nelson president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Reinforced doors were installed within months while years later it s still Flight Attendant bodies that stand in the way of those doors and mass casualties in the air and on the ground It is disgusting airlines have fought this simple life saving device all these years in favor of a limited pieces of silver Nelson added Safety and safeguard first is in word only for the corporate bean counters We will Never Forget It seems they will never care On this day years ago people were murdered by al Qaeda terrorists who hijacked four jets including two out of Logan Of all the hijackers were citizens of Saudi Arabia Loved ones of casualties are now suing the Kingdom in federal court in Manhattan