Southwest Airlines Begins Flying First Plane With Secondary Cockpit Barrier

A Southwest commercial airliner takes off from Las Vegas International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., February 8, 2024. Mike Blake/Reuters

Southwest Airlines began Friday flying its first jet with a secondary barrier to the flight deck designed to prevent intrusions.

The plane—a Boeing 737 MAX 8 which was delivered in recent days—took off Friday afternoon from Phoenix to Denver, the airline said.