Carson Works to Make Planes Safer for Americans
Washington, DC – Today, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously passed an amendment sponsored by Congressman André Carson (D-IN) that would improve flight safety by requiring the installation of secondary cockpit barriers on new passenger airplanes.
“Installing secondary cockpit barriers provides a cost-effective, efficient, and safe solution to an issue that is dear to our hearts; protecting the flight deck,” said Carson. “It ensures the protection of the flight crew and passengers. And, the general public will have peace of mind to know that sensible precautions have been taken to ensure their safety.”
The Federal Aviation Administration has required cockpit doors to be heavily fortified since 2001. However, there are no barriers in place to protect the flight deck when pilots open the compartment to use the lavatory or stretch their legs. This leaves the flight deck vulnerable and pilots defenseless to potential attackers looking to seize control of the plane.
Since 2001, there have been at least 43 hijacking attempts around the world since, five of which were successful.
The Carson Secondary Cockpit Barrier Amendment will be included in the AIRRACT or FAA Reauthorization, which was reported out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on February 11th .