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Home » United Airlines » United’s Cockpit Door Codes Revealed Online
United Airlines

United’s Cockpit Door Codes Revealed Online

Matthew Klint Posted onMay 15, 2017 6 Comments

Flight Deck Door United

Pilots and flight attendants from each airline have forums and Facebook groups in which company policy can be discussed and stories can be exchanged. One United Airlines FA apparently shared too much, in posting a numeric door code online used to access the cockpit.

When I heard about this, my first thought was, “Do all the planes have the same door code?”

United won’t say.

Can United remotely reset the codes or must each door be re-programmed individually?

United won’t say. (One pilot told CBS it must “likely” be done manually)

Is a numeric door code all that is necessary for flight deck access?

Probably not, but United’s won’t say.

United won’t say much of anything, but did release a statement stating:

The safety of our customers and crews is our top priority. United utilizes a number of measures to keep our flight decks secure beyond door-access information.

The Wall Street Journal confirmed the information was posted on a public website by a FA, but did not share which one.  The leak is not related to the worldwide ransomware attacks.

In an internal note to FAs and pilots, United stated that corrective actions are already underway.

Here’s what I know–United uses a peephole rather than a camera, but protocol is for a pilot to verify who is coming in even if the correct code is entered. The code itself does not unlock the door, it simply signals to the pilot that it likely someone trusted.

Then again, and this is only me speculating as a first class passenger having watched hundreds of pilots come in and out of the flight deck for bathroom breaks, it seems that sometimes pilots simply quickly enter the code and pull door open.

So perhaps there are a various security settings, one of which allows for immediate access and the other which requires the flight deck door to be opened from the inside even with a correct code.

CONCLUSION

A lot of speculation, but United promises it has taken corrective action already and you are not in jeopardy. No flights were delayed or canceled as a result of this security breach. Still, you’d think someone would think twice before posting that info online…

(top image Paul Martin Lester / Wikimedia Commons)

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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6 Comments

  1. mike murphy Reply
    May 15, 2017 at 10:06 am

    its really that difficult to change the code ?

  2. Mike L Reply
    May 15, 2017 at 11:19 am

    Wouldn’t it make more sense to have to swipe a badge? Before the flight takes off the pilot and co-pilot just swipe the badge to program it them use that badge to get in and out of the cockpit… seems simple and no codes to remember.

    • MHA Reply
      May 15, 2017 at 12:24 pm

      A badge or card is more easily stolen than a keycode.

      • Mike L Reply
        May 15, 2017 at 5:51 pm

        I don’t know about that. It seems like if you were seated near the cockpit door, it would be fairly easy to see what code is being entered if you were paying attention.

  3. atp Reply
    May 15, 2017 at 7:06 pm

    There is no such thing where you can get instant access. A badge to swipe would be a bad idea because anyone can swipe it. No matter how close you sit to the door, it’ll be hard to see what code is entered.

    And since the author who says he is a avid traveler, still doesn’t know how to get in, tells me the current procedure is working.

  4. Santastico Reply
    May 16, 2017 at 10:29 am

    Hummm, I guess someone will be fired!!!!

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