Quote "As I sat locked inside the flight deck with all the controls, a fire axe
and more than 100 tons of fuelled-up airliner in my hands, imagine the
chilli-based havoc I could have inflicted with this deadly substance.
Indeed, had the first officer smuggled a similar-sized bottle of ketchup
through security, the liquids could have been combined to produce a
potentially lethal barbecue marinade."
Brilliant!
I recently flew out of Lonon City and was glad to see that security was paramount in this centrally located airport. Before security, I was stopped by an official who would not let me pass until I furnished my boarding pass. He scanned it in to verify that I had the cunning ability to book a genuine flight and print the ticket (a common hurdle for terrorists to stumble apon) Identification was not needed as I passed the screening of looking like a sound geezer. I did have to take my shoes off as these, unlike the large metal belt I was wearing, could have a blade or other dangerous article concealed.
The liquid containers I'd forgotten to take out of my bag passed thru the machines with no problem as the operator must have identified that these liquids were clearly hair gel, aftershave and deodorant and not C4, petrol, acids or volatile substances such as the above pilots tobasco sauce
.
I then went to the gate where I faced yet more scrutiny as a woman inspected the piece of paper I had printed myself, aforementioned boarding card. She scanned the ticket with a pair of devices I believe to be called "eyes" for one if not several seconds before letting me past. Again no form of ID was required because I passed the biometric screen of not looking like a mentalist or being foreign.
I then boarded the BaE 146 which would pose no danger if flown into Canary Wharf as 1) Even fully fuelled come on! its only a cute little 4 engine jet aircraft and 2) Canary wharf has a red light on top to scare off terrorists (I think it even flashes just to really put the s*!ts up them)
So to summarise! No ID needed at all, liquids fine just leave them in your bag?!