How Aviation Psychology Is Set to Reshape the Aerospace Sector

 The recent hijack scare aboard Air India Express flight IX-1086 from Bengaluru to Varanasi has once again highlighted the critical importance of understanding human behavior in high-risk aviation environments. While no harm was caused, the fact that a passenger managed to input the correct cockpit passcode has raised serious concerns about insider threats, behavioral risks, and systemic vulnerabilities. This is where forensic psychology plays an indispensable role.

 

What Happened

During the flight, a passenger attempted to access the cockpit by entering the correct code. The captain, sensing a threat, refused entry despite the input being “valid.” Crew members restrained the individual until the aircraft landed safely at Varanasi. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detained the passenger and launched an investigation into how the cockpit code was obtained.

 

The Forensic Psychology Perspective

Forensic psychology goes beyond surface events to analyze intent, behavior, and motivation in incidents like these. Its application ensures that security investigations do not just resolve “what happened,” but also uncover “why it happened” and “how to prevent it in the future.”

1. Determining Intent and Mental State
   • Was the passenger’s act a genuine mistake(confusing the cockpit door with a lavatory), or a deliberate attempt at breach?
   • Forensic psychological interviews and mental state evaluations can help establish intent — critical for legal proceedings and security classification.

2. Behavioral Profiling & Threat Detection

• Forensic psychology provides tools for passenger behavioral risk profiling, enabling authorities to detect suspicious cues during check-in, boarding, or in-flight.
• Group travel patterns, inconsistent explanations, or visible anxiety can all be markers of risk.

3. Insider Threat & Information Leakage

• How did the passenger know the cockpit code? Forensic psychological approaches help in insider risk investigations— exploring possible motives such as ideological alignment, financial gain, coercion, or revenge.
• This ensures that investigations do not focus solely on the passenger, but also on the organizational ecosystemthat may have been compromised.

4. Credibility of Witness Accounts

• Passengers and crew under stress may misinterpret or misremember events.
• Forensic psychology supports structured interviewing techniquesto assess credibility, reduce memory distortion, and collect accurate accounts for legal and regulatory review.

5. Post-Incident Psychological Assessment

• Crew and passengers exposed to potential hijack threats may experience acute stress reactionsor even post-traumatic stress.
• Forensic psychological evaluations can guide whether individuals need intervention, counseling, or resilience training.

 

 

What Needs to Be Done

The Air India Express incident demonstrates that aviation security is not only technical, but psychological and investigative. Forensic psychology can strengthen this system in several ways:

1. Develop Passenger Risk Profiling Frameworks– Integrated into CISF and airline security checks.
2. Train Security Personnel– Equip them with skills to read micro-behaviors, conduct forensic interviews, and detect deception.
3. Insider Threat Programs– Regular psychological evaluations and monitoring for staff with access to sensitive systems.
4. Post-Incident Forensic Support– Conduct trauma assessments and help airlines manage psychological aftershocks of such incidents.
5. Policy & Legal Insights– Use forensic expertise to shape regulations around information security, passenger screening, and cockpit access protocols.

Conclusion

The recent hijack scare is a stark reminder that aviation safety depends not just on technology, but also on our ability to understand, predict, and manage human behavior. Forensic psychology bridges the gap between security systems and human vulnerabilities by uncovering intent, assessing threats, and supporting both investigation and prevention.

At Neurosynk Research, we believe integrating forensic psychology into aviation security frameworks is no longer optional — it is a necessity. By combining forensic insights with aviation psychology, airlines and regulators can build a system where both machines and minds are equally protected.

Because in aviation, safety is not only about stronger doors — it is about stronger vigilance, sharper investigations, and deeper understanding of human behavior.