How can aircraft cockpits be protected from threats from pilots or passengers?

A flydubai flight was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia following a cockpit disturbance, raising concerns about potential "insider attacks" by crew members. While the incident's specifics are under investigation, it appears one pilot attacked the other before being restrained by passengers. This is not the first instance of a pilot acting erratically – in 2015, Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked the cockpit door, intentionally crashing the plane into the French Alps, killing all 150 passengers and crew.

The Germanwings crash prompted international regulations mandating two crew members in the cockpit at all times. However, this rule has faced operational challenges, with some regulators allowing airlines to decide whether to continue it. In 2017, Germany's Lufthansa Group lifted the requirement on its services. In the U.S., a secondary barrier is being introduced to prevent cockpit breaches when the main door is open.

Passengers are strictly prohibited from entering the cockpit during flights. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requires all individuals on board to undergo security screening, though crew members may have different screening procedures depending on the jurisdiction. After the flydubai incident, it is believed the attack was carried out by one of the pilots using an unknown weapon.

Prof Giemulla noted that if both pilots are incapacitated and no other pilot is available, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for cabin crew to safely fly the commercial airliner.