Casey passed bill named after Bucks County pilot last month
Casey calls for swift implementation of FAA ruling to implement Saracini Enhanced Aviation Act guidance
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) urged U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker to swiftly implement the bipartisan, bicameral Saracini Enhanced Aviation Act, which was signed into law as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act.
“Over two decades have passed since September 11th, 2001, and nearly thirteen years since the policy requiring secondary cockpit barriers was introduced in Congress,” said Casey and Fitzpatrick. “The families of 9/11 victims have waited far too long for their government to act on requiring these lifesaving barriers. Alongside the indomitable Ellen Saracini, we have fought tirelessly to safeguard our skies and ensure the horrific events of 9/11 are never able to happen again. While we celebrate the monumental achievement of the Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act finally being signed into law, our resolve to secure its swift and effective implementation remains unwavering. The time to act is now; we cannot afford any further delay.”
"I applaud Representative Fitzpatrick and Senator Casey for their efforts to ensure families like my own, directly affected by the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, have a seat at the table where recommendations for a rule on the installation of secondary cockpit barriers will be made,” said Ellen Saracini, widow of Captain Victor Saracini of United Flight 175. “Our voices deserve to be heard and the FAA Administrator now has the authority to guarantee that we are not left out of the decision-making process. I hope that Administrator Whitaker heeds this call from our bipartisan champions in Congress to keep those impacted the most by 9/11 at the forefront of this rulemaking process.”
For years, Senator Casey has led the Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act to mandate installation of secondary barriers between cabin and cockpit on all major commercial passenger planes in the United States, not only new ones. Senator Casey secured a provision in the FAA legislation in 2018 to mandate secondary barriers in new planes. However, objections from the aviation industry prevented retrofitting planes already in service with secondary barriers. The bill passed in May finishes the job, and now requires a retrofit of older planes with secondary barriers to protect the pilots from hijackers. Data shows that secondary barriers significantly decrease the threat of hijackings.
This pivotal bipartisan, bicameral legislation was signed into law by President Biden on May 16th, 2024, as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
Read the full text of the letter here.
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