FlyDubai incident: Airline safety expert explains how cockpits have become more secure – but only from outside threats

An airplane carrying FlyDubai passengers made an unscheduled landing at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv after an incident involving the pilot stabbing the captain in an attempt to crash the plane. The passengers and crew were able to subdue the attacker, and Israeli fighter jets responded to the situation. While the U.S. airline industry has implemented multiple security measures since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, insider threats remain a concern.

To mitigate these risks, airlines conduct thorough preemployment and continuing vetting of pilots and flight attendants, including criminal history record checks and security threat assessments. Flight crew members also undergo identity verification and are granted controlled access to airports. However, the ultimate responsibility for cockpit security lies with the crew members themselves, who are expected to be able to defend the plane against potential threats.

In some cases, pilots may carry firearms as part of the Federal Flight Deck Officer program. Security training for flight crew and cabin crew members has evolved to include self-defense techniques and active resistance training against hijacking attempts, a significant shift from the pre-9/11 practice of merely complying with hijackers.

Despite these measures, hardened cockpit doors and additional physical barriers on new airplanes are intended to provide protection against outside threats, but they are ineffective if a criminal or terrorist is already inside the cockpit.