The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it will require new passenger planes to have secondary barriers between the cockpit and the passenger cabin to prevent hijackings. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Saracini Aviation Safety Act, in honor of Captain Victor Saracini, who died on September 11th, to improve safeguards aboard aircraft. The FAA’s rule is seen as a critical step to protect millions of people who rely on air travel. Casey has been working to mandate the installation of secondary barriers on all major commercial passenger planes in the US through the Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act.
“I fought to pass the Saracini Aviation Safety Act and pushed the Federal Aviation Administration to implement the secondary barriers rule in new passenger planes to honor the pilot of Flight 175, Captain Victor Saracini, and take a critical step towards protecting the millions of people who rely on air travel as well as pilots and crewmembers,” Senator Casey said. “I commend the FAA for taking this vital step to protect our economy, national security, and the American people from the threat of hijacking.”
“Since the day I lost my husband to a brazen act of terrorism on September 11, 2001, I have made it my mission to ensure that our country is doing everything it can to implement better safeguards aboard aircraft,” Ellen Saracini said. “This rule from the Federal Aviation Administration is a step in the right direction. Now it’s time to pass Senator Casey’s Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act to apply this rule to all passenger aircraft in our country.”
Data shows that secondary barriers significantly decrease the threat of hijacking. In March 2023, Casey introduced the Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act to mandate the installation of secondary barriers between the cabin and cockpit on all major commercial passenger planes in the United States, not only new ones.
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