There was a man arrested, taken off a plane, after he broke through the
cockpit door.  The door is not that strong.

-----Original Message-----
From: Gavin Scott [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2001 3:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] Possible new threat


Paul writes:
> The flight attendants carry a cockpit key. My wife does. So, they could be
> overpowered and then the key is used by the terrorists to get in.

And I've observed that sometimes they have a key "under the mat" so to
speak, hidden in the coffee service equipment etc., that the flight
attendants will repeatedly take out to open the door as needed.

I believe in the US it has always been required that the door be locked
during takeoffs and landings, but during a long flight pilots need to eat
too, and often want to stretch their legs, so keeping the door locked
permanently sounds problematic.  And of course there are very long flights
where there are relief pilots who may ride in the cabin with the rest of the
passengers.

I believe in the UK and Europe, they have not been required to lock the door
even at takeoff and landing.

Weight being money on an airliner, I'm not sure how many of these doors
could stand up to a concerted attack (of course all they have to do is keep
them out long enough for the passengers to turn them into hamburger :-)

G.

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