Why is the cockpit door kept closed during a cabin fire?

• A. To protect crew and passengers
• B. To prevent crew from communicating
• C. To contain smoke and fire within the cockpit area and protect crew and passengers
• D. To speed up evacuation

Answer: (C)

Closing the cockpit door during a cabin fire is about isolating the flight deck from the hazard. The door is a fire- and smoke-resistant barrier that slows the spread of heat, smoke, and toxic gases from the cabin into the cockpit. By keeping the cockpit environment safer, the pilots can continue to fly the aircraft, use radios and cockpit systems, and coordinate with cabin crew while handling the emergency. This containment protects the crew in the flight deck and helps preserve the aircraft’s controllability during the crisis. While protecting everyone on board is a benefit, the central purpose is to keep the flight deck safe from the cabin fire. It isn’t primarily about preventing communication or speeding evacuation, which are not the door’s main functions in this scenario.