Pilot shares the ‘surprising truth’ why cabin crew pass security with passengers
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We’d all love to skip the queue at airport security, but according to one pilot, even crew members don’t always get the privilege. In a TikTok video, American Airlines pilot Captain Steve revealed the ‘frustrating reason’ why you might see crew members in the security line.
![[(Picture: @captainsteeeve)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235256721-5f2e-e1736250944258.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=576)
One of his 237,000 followers asked Steve whether pilots and aircrew have to go through security like the rest of us, to which he answered: ‘Yes and no.’. ‘Here domestically in the United States, there’s a thing called Known Crewmember,’ he explained.
‘It’s a portal that I can go through where they look at my ID, I’ve got a scan and a code, and they check me out on the computer.’. This isn’t the case in every airport around the world, but in the US, staff members don’t technically have to pass security thanks to the Known Crewmember system (KCM) which allows airline employees to bypass the typical checkpoints – such as physical screening.
According to Captain Steve, the separate KCM lane is to ‘trust the pilots and the aircrew’ and simultaneously ‘speed up the process for the passengers.’. But the aviator claims it doesn’t always work out, adding: ‘About a third of the time I get flagged or randomed, and I have to go through security with everybody else.’.
Do Pilots Go Through Airport Security? The Surprising Truth! Curious if pilots and aircrew face airport security like everyone else? Discover the insider details about the ‘known crew member’ program and how it impacts the boarding process. Join Captain Steve as he shares his experience and tips for navigating airport security efficiently. #AirportSecurity #PilotsLife #AircrewInsights #TravelTips #KnownCrewMember #CaptainSteve #FlyingSmart #FlightSafety #AviationCommunity #TravelSecrets.
