New Airline Planes Will Be Required to Have Secondary Barriers to the Cockpit to Protect Pilots

American Airlines pilot captain Pete Gamble (L) and first officer John Konstanzer conduct a pre-flight check in the cockpit of a Boeing 737 Max jet in Grapevine, Texas, on Dec. 2, 2020. LM Otero/AP Photo

U.S. officials said Wednesday they will require new airline planes to have a second barrier to make it harder for passengers to break into the cockpit when the main door is open.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rule will apply to commercial planes made after mid-2025.