Airbus A320 Crashes in Alps

[DJMK4]

It's probably a scenario they can't really account for. There needs to be a way to block all access from inside the pilot cabin in the event of a terrorist takeover from the passenger cabin.

All good and well but as we can see problems can happen within the cockpit too, albiet not very often, but if this is true, and we see in other cases, it does happen


What about a combination of chip under skin, pin, and swipecard for over-ride if for what ever reason the pilot cannot gain access back in to the cabin. One of each will not gain access, and the card will never gain access alone

If both pilots are in the cockpit then this still gives the lockout for anyone external, if one pilot leaves and is unable to gain access, like we seen here, they can override it by using a chip under the skin, a swipecard, and a code.


Maybe im going a bit OTT with that theory, but still aswel as the outside of the cockpit being a threat, the inside of the cockpit threats need to be looked in to further

 

[Belly]

Could the pilot in the cabin not have placed a simple wooden/plastic door wedge under the door when the other pilot left the cabin?

4 to the pound in the pound shops.

 

[squerble]

My G/F works as a stewardess onboard the same type of plane (A319/A320)

Some of the rubbish being talked about on here is crazy. The Pilot/Co pilot can freely leave the cockpit as longs one of them stays in there.

The door lock can be overridden outside the cockpit by crew using a special code/sequence. This method is there incase both pilots are incap and the cabin crew need to enter the flightdeck.

This works if the pilots are incapacitated. If a pilot isn't, they can override even the emergency code.

 

[JoeF1]

Sure a circuit breaker could have been pulled by the pilot remaining inside the cockpit disabling the door but struggle to believe that (More likely a malfunction with the door lock/code panel)

This still does not explain why it crashed.

 

[LordVader]

This still does not explain why it crashed.

Agreed.

 

[Minstadave]

My G/F works as a stewardess onboard the same type of plane (A319/A320)

Some of the rubbish being talked about on here is crazy. The Pilot/Co pilot can freely leave the cockpit as longs one of them stays in there.

The door lock can be overridden outside the cockpit by crew using a special code/sequence. This method is there incase both pilots are incap and the cabin crew need to enter the flightdeck.

Again given enough time there are tools onboard that could have managed to brake the door down to give access.

Sure a circuit breaker could have been pulled by the pilot remaining inside the cockpit disabling the door but struggle to believe that (More likely a malfunction with the door lock/code panel)

Nice speculation but you're wrong. Someone on the flight deck can override any attempt to unlock the door by holding down a button.

 

[Third Opinion]

You can check out the locking procedure in this rather cheesy Airbus video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixEHV7c3VXs

 

[leaskovski]

My G/F works as a stewardess onboard the same type of plane (A319/A320)

Some of the rubbish being talked about on here is crazy. The Pilot/Co pilot can freely leave the cockpit as longs one of them stays in there.

The door lock can be overridden outside the cockpit by crew using a special code/sequence. This method is there incase both pilots are incap and the cabin crew need to enter the flightdeck.

Again given enough time there are tools onboard that could have managed to brake the door down to give access.

Sure a circuit breaker could have been pulled by the pilot remaining inside the cockpit disabling the door but struggle to believe that (More likely a malfunction with the door lock/code panel)

Did you not watch that Airbus video? The person can only get in, if the person inside lets them using the override.

 

[neil_g]

If both pilots are in the cockpit then this still gives the lockout for anyone external, if one pilot leaves and is unable to gain access, like we seen here, they can override it by using a chip under the skin, a swipecard, and a code.

all of which could be taken advantage of by wannabe hijackers.

 

[sityeuropa]

nm

 

[Adam]

Crazy that a system put in place to save lives could potentially have cost lives.

I wonder how significant the reason to hold back the names of the pilots is.

 

[Hitman_Leon]

I'd hardly class a plane that can carry 150 people small
O.K it's not one of these new double decker super planes but it's hardly small.

So do these 'medium' sized planes normally have flight engineers then? Does anyone know?

Flew on one the first time a long time ago, was a holiday as a birthday present from my girlfriend at the time. She had secretly told a stewardess the it was my 21st and the pilot invited me into the cockpit. When I got there I must have looked a little puzzled, one of the pilots asked me what I was thinking and I told him I thought it would be bigger in the cockpit and asked about flight engineer. He laughed a little and told me they did not need one in that plane due to all the automation, then proceeded to give me a tour of the cockpit controls.

Seems odd now thinking back, all you had to do was ask nicely and you could go up there mid flight if the crew were in a generous mood.

 

[C.R.A.Z.Y]

Nice speculation but you're wrong. Someone on the flight deck can override any attempt to unlock the door by holding down a button.

MUST be the case since 9-11, otherwise what is going to stop someone with bad intentions entering the cockpit? The code would simply be forced from a cabin-crew member, you can't expect them not to give it up, especially if they have just witnessed a work colleges throat being slit open right in-front of them or something else horrific!!

 

[squerble]

From that video, the emergency code takes 30 seconds for the door to open. The person inside has the choice to lock/unlock the request.

At that point in the journey would the plane have been in autopilot?

For it to be an accident the following must be true right?

Pilot inside the cabin became incapacitated
Emergency code forgotten / door malfunction
Autopilot was not currently enabled

Autopilot usually enabled from <10,000ft after takeoff, so it would most likely have been enabled at this point.

 

[MooMoo444]

Crazy that a system put in place to save lives could potentially have cost lives.

I wonder how significant the reason to hold back the names of the pilots is.

Given the circumstances, it might be to protect the families of those involved from hate attacks. Completely understandable.

 

[leaskovski]

Unless.... du du duuurrrr.... the pilot left in the cockpit had a heart attack, and collapsed on to the centre console thus pushing the door switch to override stopping anyone externally from getting in.

I guess the blackbox could tell us if this happened as the data would record that the switch went to that position and stayed there before the override even occurred, or as the first attempt happened to gain access. From the video, it looks like the person in the cockpit only has to flick it to the position and then the switch flicks back if you let go of it, thus overriding the access meaning that the person shouldn't need to hold it in position all the time. Which, as I mention, if it is in position all the time, the person inside doesn't know what they are doing, or has collapsed on the switch.

Job done.

 

[Minstadave]

Collapse onto the console managing to disable the autopilot, plot a descent and override entry into the cabin?

Really?

 

[Third Opinion]

From that video, the emergency code takes 30 seconds for the door to open. The person inside has the choice to lock/unlock the request.

At that point in the journey would the plane have been in autopilot?

If it was an accident the following must be true right?

Pilot inside the cabin became incapacitated
Emergency code forgotten / door malfunction
Autopilot was not currently enabled

It's hard to think of a system that can protect everyone.

What I gather from the video, even if the pilot had accidentally locked the door and become unconscious the lock would have timed out in 5 minutes allowing the external code to be entered again.

If I am understanding it right if the pilot was trying to gain access for over 5 minutes the person in the cockpit would have had to have been concious to keep overriding the emergency code.

Seriously what are the chances of a malfunction and illness happening at the exact time? Even so the plane must have also have come off autopilot as well.

The odds must be staggering if this was an accident.

 

[leaskovski]

Collapse onto the console managing to disable the autopilot, plot a descent and override entry into the cabin?

Really?

Yeah not likely is it, so basically the dude left in the cockpit crashed it.

 

[Amos91]

I'm just speculating but with the missing Air Asia plane I recall there being a quick analysis on the news regarding the pilots apparent well-being (photos of his simulator etc was shown).

In this case, we have heard nothing about the pilot & co-pilot.