The Chicago-based United Continental Holdings Inc. alerted about a breach in cockpit-door security procedures caused by a human error. A flight attendant mistakenly posted information that included access codes to the airline's cockpit to a public website.
After 9/11, airline cockpit doors are locked and secured by access codes that are unique to individual planes. However, this poses risks as anyone with the correct code entered on a keypad affixed on the outside of the cockpit door, can enter the cockpit.
While airline crews can ring a bell to alert pilots if some intruders want to enter, and pilots themselves can also override efforts by intruders trying to enter the cockpit, even if the correct code was entered, but by knowing that anyone can have the code is already a security concern.
It didn't take long until the problem was fixed, as explained by officials at the Air Line Pilots Association union.
The codes needed to be manually re-programmed for each plane. United's fleet consists of about 740 planes that make some 4,400 departures across the globe every day.
United emailed its employees, saying that "the risk of a breach of the flight deck door is strongly mitigated by carefully following the flight deck security procedures." The airline also instructed employees that access code information "is sensitive security information and sharing this with anyone not authorized or who does not have a need to know is strictly prohibited."
"The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority and United utilizes a number of measures to keep our flight decks secure beyond door access information," said United in a statement. "In the interim this protocol ensures our cockpits remain secure."
To deal with this matter, the airline warned pilots to take extra precautions, including visually confirming identity before opening the door to anyone.
