Delayed Egress Locking Systems and Airport Security

An incident earlier this year highlights misconceptions about using or not using Delayed Egress on emergency exit doors.

On New Year’s Day at Salt Lake City International Airport, a Utah man died after he breached double doors at an airport emergency exit stairway in the secure area of the passenger terminal, ran across the tarmac, and crawled into the engine of a plane awaiting deicing. His family said he had a history of mental illness and suspect he was experiencing a manic episode.

Prior to his gaining access to the runway through the stairway double doors, he was thwarted in several attempts to gain access to the jetway at a gate door secured by an SDC EMLock® paired with an exit bar and door trim. It should be noted that SDC’s electrified hardware solutions are used on every jetway gate door at this airport.