Following the September 11 attacks in 2001 , the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act , part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 , directed the Transportation Security Administration to develop the Federal Flight Deck Officer program as an additional layer of security . Under this program , flight crew members are deputized Federal Law Enforcement Officers authorized by the Transportation Security Administration to use firearms to defend against acts of criminal violence or air piracy undertaken to gain control of their aircraft . The first flight crew members that volunteered were pilots and flight engineer assigned to fly scheduled passenger air service under the FAR 121 ( Domestic and Flag Air Carrier Operations ) . Participants in the program were meant to remain anonymous , and while armed , were prohibited from sharing their participation except with select personnel on a need-to-know basis
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Federal Flight Deck Officer