A Bay State man accused of attacking a flight attendant whereas on a airplane to Boston final week, the newest in a protracted listing of unruly passenger incidents, reveals the continued want for a secondary cockpit barrier on all industrial aircrafts.
The chaotic incident on the United flight from Los Angeles to Boston Logan International Airport additionally despatched terrorists a transparent message that “Americans are not going to lie down and take it,” mentioned retired FAA particular agent Brian Sullivan.
The 77-year-old Massachusetts man spoke to the Herald within the wake of final Sunday’s surprising incident. Leominster man Francisco Torres, 33, was arrested after allegedly attempting to open an emergency exit door after which attempting to stab a flight attendant within the neck. Passengers, together with a former Boston bouncer, ended up tackling Torres and restraining him.
During the incident, Torres in a video was seen transferring towards the cockpit as he allegedly attacked the flight attendant.
“It emphasizes the need to have that extra barrier for the cockpit on every commercial aircraft,” Sullivan mentioned. “They’ve hardened the cockpit door, which is great, but more needs to be done.”
When a pilot has to exit the cockpit to make use of the lavatory, the “secondary barrier” turns into flight attendants standing in entrance of the cockpit entrance — often with their push cart.
“It puts flight attendants at risk, and puts an extra burden on them to protect the cockpit,” Sullivan mentioned. “Because secondary barriers with a screen haven’t been installed on existing aircraft, it means that a flight attendant and a pushcart are the protection against a terrorist from storming the cockpit.”
Last month, members of Congress proposed the Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act, which might require airways to put in secondary cockpit boundaries in industrial passenger aircrafts. These wire-mesh gates could be situated between the passenger cabin and cockpit door, blocking entry to the flight deck whereas within the air.
“I am proud to co-lead the bipartisan Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act in an effort to make our nation’s skies safer and ensure our 9/11 heroes, like Captain Victor J. Saracini, are never forgotten,” mentioned Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch.
“These barriers to the flight deck provide an extra safety precaution that could prevent a terrorist attack or any other potentially devastating breach while in air,” Lynch added. “We must be proactive to keep our aircraft secure and this bill will help ensure tragedies like 9/11 never happen again and give passengers, pilots and flight crews additional protection and assurance for a safe flight.”
On a optimistic be aware, on the subject of the latest incident on the flight to Logan, the passengers and flight attendants taking down the person and restraining him sends terrorists a message that vacationers right here is not going to sit idly by and fail to take motion, Sullivan mentioned.
“It shows them that the public is not going to take it anymore,” he added. “Americans are not going to lie down and take it.”
According to the federal legal grievance, Torres admitted to investigators that he went into the lavatory on the airplane and broke a spoon in half to make a weapon. There are loads of issues on an plane that may be was a weapon, Sullivan mentioned — so regardless of TSA screening for weapons and banned gadgets, passengers and crew must “stay on our toes.”
He added, “Passengers and crew remain our best and last line of defense.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
