British Airways has suspended a pilot for leaving the cockpit door open for an extended period during a transatlantic flight. He reportedly did it so that his family, who were passengers on the flight, could see him at the controls. The incident occurred on one of the airline’s eight daily flights from 
London Heathrow Airport to 
New York JFK Airport, and sparked concerns among passengers about security onboard the aircraft.
While British Airways continues to investigate, it has stated there was no security threat identified, but the pilot was suspended for breaching anti-terror rules and safety protocols. The UK Civil Aviation Authority and US regulators are also reviewing the incident. This all comes after a slew of pilot suspensions in recent weeks after a wide range of headline-grabbing incidents.
From Family Peek to Flight Cancellation
The incident occurred on August 6, and involved Flight 173, a Boeing 777-300ER with 256 passengers onboard. The flight had departed Heathrow just before midday for its seven-and-a-half-hour journey across the North Atlantic. It was reportedly mid-flight that passengers noticed that the cockpit door was open and unsecured for what witnesses said was a “significant time”, and some brought it to the attention of the flight attendants.
Multiple sources have stated that the pilot had family that were flying as passengers, and it was his intention to allow them to see him at the controls. But that didn’t impress passengers or the British Airways crew, who reported the incident to authorities upon landing in New York. British Airways reacted swiftly by suspending the pilot. Unfortunately, the return flight to Heathrow was forced to be canceled, leaving hundreds of passengers scrambling to be booked on to other flights.
A British Airways insider told the Daily Mail that keeping the cockpit door open was a deliberate act over a protracted period, and not a lapse of judgment for a few seconds:
“The door was wide open for a significant time. It was enough time for many people to see, to start to worry and to comment. Our BA colleagues were so alarmed that the pilot was reported in the US, and the bosses had to suspend him.”
The Rules Around Cockpit Doors
The foundation of modern cockpit security lies in the traumatic lessons of September 11, 2001, when hijackers accessed cockpits on four US flights. In response, global aviation regulators, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US, and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), mandated reinforced cockpit doors capable of withstanding firearms, explosives, and forcible intrusion.
While cockpit doors will typically stay open during the boarding process, they are mandated to remain closed and locked from takeoff to landing. Entry is only permitted to authorized crew members via an electronic access system, and pilots control access via a locking switch in the cockpit. Cockpit doors on most commercial aircraft are also equipped with surveillance cameras and peepholes, ensuring pilots can verify identities before granting entry.
Another key issue regarding cockpit access is the “two-person rule”. After the 2015 Germanwings Flight 9525 crash, in which the first officer deliberately locked the captain out of the cockpit and crashed the aircraft, the FAA strongly recommended that two authorized individuals need to be in the cockpit at all times. If one pilot leaves (such as to go to the restroom), another crew member must be present in the cockpit until they return. EASA rescinded the rule in 2017, leaving it to airlines to decide.
A Slew Of Pilot Suspensions
Following a formal investigation, British Airways concluded that there was no security threat, and the pilot has since returned to active duty. A British Airways spokesperson stated that safety and security remain the airline’s top priorities, and all such allegations are thoroughly investigated.
This is just the latest in a slew of pilot suspensions in recent weeks after a wide range of headline-grabbing incidents. These include the following:
- Southwest Airlines: A 52-year-old pilot was arrested at Savannah/Hilton Head Airport after failing sobriety tests and showing signs of alcohol intoxication immediately before a scheduled flight to Chicago.
- Delta Air Lines: A pilot was arrested onboard a flight after arrival at San Francisco International Airport. Homeland Security Investigations charged him in connection with child sexual abuse materials.
- Easyjet: A veteran pilot was suspended after roaming naked and severely intoxicated in a luxury resort in Cape Verde at 02:30, just before a planned return flight to London Gatwick.
- Spirit Airlines: A 40-year-old pilot was arrested at New Orleans International Airport and charged with two counts of intentional stalking involving minors under the age of 14.
Another British Airlines pilot of a Boeing 777-300ER also recently made headlines after his robust radio exchange with SFO ATC was shared online. However, there was no disciplinary action related to that incident, and sentiment on Simple Flying and social media overwhelmingly supported the pilot.
