Germanwings Crash Places Spotlight on Cockpit Security

Germanwings Crash Places Spotlight on Cockpit Security

In the aftermath of flight 9525, security officials are looking into cockpit safety practices

  • By Matt Holden
  • Mar 27, 2015

Following the events of Germanwings Flight 9295, aviation regulators outside the U.S. took steps to require two crew members be in the cockpit at all times during flights, while other airlines revised their existing practices ahead of any formal action.

Now, tougher rules are being discussed, such as requiring a third pilot or a flight attendant be present in the cockpit whenever a pilot leaves.

According to a report, most Airbus A320 jets (like the one involved in the crash) are fitted with a crew-controlled door locking mechanism to prevent unauthorized access to the flight deck. Access from the cabin is also permitted by using a keypad code, but someone at the controls can block entry for five minutes or longer using a switch in the cockpit.

Aviation safety experts say the crash is unlikely to garner calls for the reinforced doors to be dropped, but instead focus attention on airline procedures such as cockpit staffing.

Aviation regulators in the U.S. and Europe in recent years mandated repairs to hundreds of hardened doors on Boeing Co. and Airbus Group NV jets that could jam or fail to operate properly. In January, a co-pilot of a Delta Air Lines Inc. flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Las Vegas without its second pilot, who was locked out of the cockpit after the door mechanism failed to reopen.

About the Author

Matt Holden is an Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media, Inc. He received his MFA and BA in journalism from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He currently writes and edits for Occupational Health & Safety magazine, and Security Today.

Featured

  • Ransomware Attacks Rise for the First Time in Six Months

    Ransomware attacks have risen for the first time in six months, increasing by 28% month-on-month to 421 attacks. While overall attack volume remained below 500, the uptick may signal a renewed escalation heading into the year’s most active period for cyber criminals. Read Now

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.