American Airlines will begin using anti-terror barricades on June 18. Although the barriers had already been installed on newly delivered aircraft, they remained inactive for nearly a year while the airline trained pilots and flight attendants on their use
Installed Physical Secondary Barrier
The anti-terror barricades, formally known as the Installed Physical Secondary Barrier (IPSB), serve as a secondary barrier between the bulletproof cockpit door and the passenger cabin.
The IPSB is deployed when a pilot needs to use the restroom, requiring the cockpit door to be opened. The barrier is designed to delay a potential assailant, giving pilots and flight attendants additional time to respond.
U.S. airlines have been required to install IPSBs on newly manufactured aircraft since August 2025. The origins of these barriers can be traced back to the aftermath of 9/11. Following 9/11, lawmakers sought ways to make cockpits more secure against potential terrorist attacks.
This effort led to the introduction of bulletproof cockpit doors that cannot be unlocked from the outside. However, aviation unions argued that this measure was insufficient to stop an armed assailant. When pilots leave the cockpit to use the restroom, the cockpit door must be opened, creating an opportunity for an attacker to bypass its security features.
Deadline Extension for Anti-Terror Barricades
Some airlines improvised temporary barriers using beverage carts. Industry advocates and campaigners then pushed for a more effective solution. They found that several international airlines had already implemented secondary cockpit barriers that separated the forward galley from the passenger cabin.
In 2023, the FAA ordered airlines to begin installing IPSBs within two years. Although the original deadline was August 2025, airlines were granted extensions. The airline industry argued that additional time was needed to train personnel.
However, IPSBs will not appear on all aircraft. The FAA mandate applies only to aircraft manufactured after August 2025. Older aircraft will not be required to undergo retrofitting.
