How Are Commercial Aicraft Secured?

Question

Couldn't a random person just open the door and hide in or steal the aircraft?

Answer 1

It has been known that aircraft parts have come up missing and nobody has seen anything.  

Answer 2

Rivets, screws and nuts and bolts???

Answer 3

well you don't need keys to start and run a commercal craft.

so as long as you had the starup procedure written down for the particular aircraft, and you had enough fuel you could steal the whole plane.

planning something arent we?

Answer 4

Several things about this question and the answers already posted:

--It is true that it is dangerous nowadays to ask about such matters.  Don't show too much curiosity.

--There are reasons why a non-crew visitor would not be able to start the typical airliner, and crew members generally have signed an agreement not to divulge these secrets.  But if you sneak into the flight deck of a 747 and start turning on switches, nothing will happen and an alarm will go off.  I can tell you that much, but not much more.

--Airplanes owned by big airline and cargo companies are almost always parked in well-lighted and heavily patrolled secure areas, not accessible to unauthorized persons.

--Door locks are an order option on most airliners and cargo planes.  I used to fly passengers across the Pacific in a 747 that could be locked up.  You had to be slender and be willing to wiggle out through a small hatch and lock it behind you.  But it is not correct to say that airliners are not ever locked.  The reason is that not all airports, especially in less developed countries, provide the level of security that management prefers.

No reason not to tell you that much.  But it is a touchy subject.

Answer 5

CCTV, security staff and of course you would first have to get airside without being noticed.

Answer 6

I can't believe that people are actually answering this question!  Pilots sign agreements not to divulge this type of information.  Please don't ask again.  Thank you.

Answer 7

You are not in the process of taking lessons as to how to 'execute a turn' by any chance, are you? You ought direct your question to IATA, disclosing full personal identification details - especially during this current climate of fear and uncertainty.  

Answer 8

Theoretically it's all external security, as already said. Although it IS usually possible to lock an aircraft doors, that rarely happens and the thing is seldom, if ever, left unattended. You have the cleaners, the replenishment people, engineers etc coming and going all the time.

Doesn't always work though . . .  

I remember a TAROM  (Romania) 707 that turned up in the UK to collect some parts, complete with a squad of armed guards on board. This was because they were so used to major parts of the aircraft disappearing overnight.  Mind you, the crew had to sleep on board overnight and were only allowed to leave the aircraft to do walkrounds etc. with an escort in case they did a bunk.

Answer 9

no, its practically impossible to steal a commercial aircraft from an airport hangar.. One of the hardest parts is getting into the airfield.. Getting into the JET and Taking off is another story.. You have to get into the cockpit and before going to the runway, you have to unattatch the gate and have a clearance to the runway...

Answer 10

ryanair use double sided sticky tape(blue)

Answer 11

The pilots take the keys with them  

Answer 12

Technically, airliners aren't locked.  There are no locks on the doors, nor is a key required to start it up.  However, you'll have a tough time getting to the aircraft in the first place.   TSA, fences around the airport, people everywhere watching you, doors leading down to the jetway are locked, etc.

Unfortunately though, people do steal from the aircrafts.  It's usually cleaners, ground crew, etc, as they can walk onto the planes at will.  I've gotten to my plane in the morning and all the liquor was gone (of course, that could have been the pilots the night before, ha).