The Real Reason Why Pilots Leave the Cockpit Door Open During Boarding

Passengers boarding a commercial aircraft often catch a glimpse inside the cockpit. Yet federal law mandates a physical barrier between pilots and the main cabin during flight. So why is the cockpit door sometimes left open while boarding?

Corry Lane, director of safety at private jet charter company Cirrus Aviation Services, told Travel + Leisure that the answer is simple.

“Pilots and flight attendants are actively communicating about flight details, passenger count, fuel status, weather, and any last-minute changes,” he explained. Keeping the door open allows crews to coordinate more efficiently.

“Ground crew, maintenance personnel, or dispatchers may need to enter the cockpit to deliver paperwork, update flight plans, or perform final checks,” Lane added.

Flight attendant Venezia Macias echoed the sentiment, telling Travel + Leisure, “Pilots leave the door open during boarding because they’re handling their own duties and need to communicate. They check in with gate agents and rampers about things like the baggage sheet for weight and balance, last-minute paperwork, or maintenance issues. They also stay open to us flight attendants in case there’s a problem in the cabin — like if we need to remove a passenger.”

She continued, “At the end of the day, the captain is in command and has the final say, so the open door helps keep that flow of communication moving before departure.”

However, once the plane takes off, the cockpit door must remain closed. According to CFR 121.587, pilots “shall ensure that the door separating the flightcrew compartment from the passenger compartment is closed and locked at all times when the aircraft is being operated.”

In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, requiring cockpit doors to be locked during flight except when authorized personnel need access.

Despite these regulations, some argue more protections are necessary when the door is open. The Air Line Pilots Association noted, “Hardened flight deck doors improved security, but they are not a complete solution. A security device known as a ‘secondary barrier’ is needed to prevent hostile individuals from reaching the flight deck any time the hard door is open during flight.”

Last month, Southwest Airlines introduced its first aircraft with a secondary cockpit barrier, a spokesperson told PEOPLE. This device blocks passengers from entering the front galley near the flight deck when a pilot needs to leave the cockpit during flight, such as to use the restroom. According to Southwest, they are among the first U.S. carriers to equip planes with this added layer of security.