Steel Bars "Take Security An Extra Step"

A step ahead of the FAA and the Department of Homeland Security, United Airlines Wednesday announced it will install additional cockpit protection features, beginning with its fleet of Boeing 757s.

The airline is installing what look like child safety gates aft of the forward galley. The steel bar and cable contraptions can be quickly deployed to protect the cockpit and cabin crew members in the event of a terrorist attack.

"We've always been intent on taking security an extra step with a secondary barrier to prevent unauthorized access to the cockpit and protect passengers and crew members from potential harm," United spokesman Jeff Green said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.

Terrorists commandeered two UAL flights on September 11, 2001, crashing one into the south tower of the World Trade center and the other in a field near Shanksville (PA).

Neither United nor the FAA would comment on reports that the new safety equipment was being installed in response to several passengers aboard UAL flights who had acted suspiciously in recent months. Some reportedly made threatening moves toward the cockpit. Others refused to comply with directives from the cabin crew, leading analysts to believe terrorists might be testing new onboard security measures. The ALPA said some passengers had even attempted to "flush out" air marshals on certain flights.

United, which is in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings, refused to disclose how much it would cost to install the new barriers on each of its 500 aircraft.

Green told the Tribune that the barriers had already been installed on 25 757s. The airline plans to complete installation on the remainder of its fleet of 97 757s by the end of October, according to the Tribune.

FMI: www.united.com