The recent flydubai plane incident has once again raised questions about flight security. This time the concerns have been raised over how secure the cockpit is from an attack inside the aircraft. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the locked cockpit, causing the aircraft to make a rapid descent. However, a catastrophe was prevented as the pilot managed to open the door, allowing passengers to intervene for help.
Cockpit Securtiy Into Focus
The aircraft was eventually diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia and all the passengers were reported to be safe. However, questions have emerged as investigation into the incident continues. Commercial cockpit doors were not always heavily secured barriers as they appear today. Before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the US, flight-deck doors were majorly designed for privacy and were not built to stop forced entry.
Plane Crashes That Led To Aviation Reforms
However, in the aftermath of the attack, regulators introduced major changes including cockpit doors that were built to resist forcible intrusion and ballistic penetration. It also stated that doors must remain locked during flight. This was not the first incident where a crash or accident led to the introduction of major aviation reforms. Here’s a look at five major accidents that triggered reforms in aviation security.
1. Grand Canyon Collision, 1956
On June 30, 1956, a TWA Lockheed Super Constellation and a United Airlines DC-7 collided over the Grand Canyon, killing all 128 people aboard. The crash exposed weaknesses in how airspace was managed. It led to major changes to air-traffic control and also led to the creation of the Federal Aviation Agency in 1958, the predecessor of FAA.
2. Tenerife disaster, 1977
Another major aviation reform came after the Tenerife disaster. In 1977, two Boeing 747s operated by KLM and Pan Am had collided on the runway at Tenerife, killing 583 people. Probe findings pointed to confusing communications, cockpit decision-making, and operational pressures among the factors that contributed to the disaster. This tragedy led to the adoption of Crew Resource Management. CRM allows pilots and other crew members to speak up when they see a safety problem instead of simply deferring to the captain.
3. Japan Airlines Flight 123, 1985
The Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash in 1985 highlighted the dangers of incorrect structural repairs and the difficulty of detecting long-term fatigue damage. The plane had crashed after a faulty repair to the aircraft’s aft pressure bulkhead led to structural failure and the loss of control. Of the 524 people aboard, 520 had died. It led to the industry’s focus on repair standards, structural inspections, and the continuing airworthiness of ageing aircraft.
4. TWA Flight 800, 1996
Another major reform came after the TWA Flight 800 broke apart over the Atlantic on July 17, 1996, killing all 230 people aboard. The probe had concluded that an explosion in the centre wing fuel tank caused the crash. An electrical short was considered the most likely ignition source. The disaster led to focus on reducing the risk of flammable fuel-air mixtures, including fuel-tank inerting and other measures.
5. ValuJet Flight 592, 1996
The crashing of ValuJet Flight 592, in the Florida Everglades, killing 110 people, after an uncontrolled fire began in the forward cargo compartment also led to major reform. As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that improperly carried chemical oxygen generators had caused the fire, it led to new requirements for fire detection and suppression in cargo compartments.
You May Also Like To Watch: