CHICAGO, Nov 15: United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp., said on Thursday it will become the first major US airline to put Taser weapons, or stun guns, in every cockpit in its fleet following the Sept. 11 attacks so pilots can fight off hijackers.

The move comes amid heightened security concerns after hijackers commandeered planes belonging to United and American Airlines just over two months ago and flew them into the World Trade Center and Pentagon, killing nearly 5,000 people.

Tasers work by firing an electronic charge that instantly incapacitates an attacker. They are not lethal weapons and would not blow a hole in the fuselage like a conventional firearm, but they can cause burns.

United, the No. 2 US airline, said the installation should start shortly. It is buying the guns from Taser International, based on Scottsdale, Arizona.

Two United jets were hijacked and crashed on Sept. 11, one into the World Trade Center and one in rural Pennsylvania.

United said the Tasers will be available to pilots in the event of a hijacking to defend the cockpit. United along with other airlines has also reinforced cockpit doors with special metal bars.

“Tasers will incapacitate an attacker without endangering the airplane,” said an official.—Reuters