Ryanair Holdings Plc CEO Michael O'Leary and Deutsche Lufthansa AG CEO Carsten Spohr argued that stringent pilot vetting still leaves residual risks in aviation security. Speaking at a Brussels meeting organized by Airlines for Europe, O'Leary emphasized that while his airline conducts extensive reference checks, "no system is perfect" and eliminating all risks is impossible. He expressed reluctance toward blacklists, noting that "if you have somebody who is a mad person in a cockpit, it's very difficult to legislate for it."
Spohr highlighted the delicate balance between passenger protection and employee privacy, referencing Germanwings' 2015 pilot murder-suicide that killed 150. He stated, "We have to face the fact that there is no absolute safety and security in this industry."
IAG SA CEO Luis Gallego noted declining dangerous pilot incidents over time, adding that the industry will work with authorities to improve safety following the Sept. 30 Fly Dubai attack. A co-pilot attempted to crash the Boeing 737 Max en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, stabbing the Indian commander and swinging an ax before passengers intervened. The attacker, Hamam al-Hammami from Oman, was reportedly radicalized.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing