New Concerns about Cockpit Access Trigger Security Bulletin In response
to an attempt last week by an unauthorized individual to gain access to the
flight deck jumpseat on US Airways Flight 1935 from Philadelphia to West Palm
Beach, ALPA has issued Security Alert Bulletin 2013-02. Because of the ongoing
FBI criminal investigation, we are not at liberty to discuss some of the details
of the event.
However, the news media has reported that the individual involved was a
ticketed passenger from Paris to West Palm Beach, Florida, with a stop and
flight change in Philadelphia. The individual was dressed in a white shirt with
pilot epaulets, leather bomber jacket, and had non-authentic Air France pilot
credentials. In Philadelphia, the individual boarded the aircraft during the
passenger boarding process using his ticket. Once on board, he approached the
cockpit and introduced himself to the flight deck crew. At some point, the
flight deck crew told the individual to leave and take his assigned seat in the
passenger cabin. Once in the passenger cabin, the individual became disruptive
with a flight attendant regarding the stowage of carry-on luggage. At that
point, the individual was removed from the flight.
This incident reminds us how important it is to be
vigilant and follow security procedures. Please remember that CASS is only one
layer of the security screening process and does not relieve the pilot in
command of the responsibility to thoroughly check the credentials of a potential
jumpseater. The bulletin outlines specific recommendations for ALPA crews to
follow.
Read Security Alert Bulletin 2013-02. |