Rex Hunt and Knives bound for Melbourne

[Musky1210]

Earlier today Rex Hunt.... (Radio Commentator 3AW) was detained at Melbourne for boarding a flight bound for Melborune with a handful of knives.

What are your views?
Should CASA get tougher on airside with security?
Lastly, should alcohol be served airside or onboard aircraft?

[Cactus Jack]

Yehbada, yehbada. What an idiot.

His views on footy arent much better than his common sense with regards to knives. He could have put them in his checked baggage and not had a hassle in the world.

[MoFo]

Musky.
Not doubting your info but I am unable to find any reference to it on local news media web sites. Are you sure, or is it an Urban Legend?

You need to be careful naming someone without making sure its accurate.

How could he be stopped at MEL boarding a flight for MEL?

No doubt all will become clear if there is something in it.

[gliderboy]

It wasn't a bunch of knives. Apparently he carried a few metal forks. Search News.com.au........... it's all there.

He still is an idiot though

[Buster Hyman]

I heard it being discussed on 3MMM before the footy!

He's an ex Policeman too!:rolleyes:

[Four Seven Eleven]

Fox Sports story (http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9568039-23210,00.html)
Rex Hunt detained at airport
By Robert Grant
May 15, 2004

HIGH-profile AFL commentator Rex Hunt was today detained by police at Victoria's Tullamarine Airport over a security incident on a flight from Adelaide.

Mr Hunt claimed he was testing airline security when he took out metal forks on the Qantas flight.
A fellow passenger complained to a steward that he posed a security threat.
The 3AW football caller was held by police this morning as he got off the plane and was released after being questioned.
Fellow commentators Graeme Bond and Clynton Grybas, who were also on the flight after calling the Adelaide-Essendon game, were not detained.
Mr Bond said Mr Hunt had gone through a "fairly thorough" security check at Adelaide airport, then went to the Qantas Club, where he took cutlery to take onto the plane.
Mr Hunt later told 3AW he was embarrassed by the incident and admitted his actions were stupid.
He said he acted out of frustration but "in hindsight, it was as dumb as you would ever, ever get."
Hunt said he was forced to strip to his underpants while going though security in Adelaide at the first entry point for boarding the flight.
He said he was trying to point out flaws in security on Australian domestic flights.
Mr Hunt said it was ridiculous that people were given plastic cutlery to eat with on board the plane when they had access to metal knives and forks.
He said he had several forks on the plane and displayed them, startling another passenger who complained.
However, Mr Hunt denied he had stood up or was brandishing the forks in a threatening way on board.
He said he was taken into custody by uniformed officers and security officials when the plane landed.
"They questioned me on security and very, very intently on my intent - what was my intent when I boarded that flight."
He said he wished he could have the time over again and admitted his many critics would be relishing the incident.
So, I suppose I can go and ‘test’ the police ability to enforce the drink-driving laws by driving around with a skin full? ‘Testing’ the laws should be no excuse. In fact, they should be an aggravating factor in any sentencing, as they demonstrate that the offence was committed wilfully, knowingly and with at least some understanding of the seriousness of both the law and any breach. He should suffer at least some penalty beside a fine or a suspended sentence – not necessarily incarceration.
How could he be stopped at MEL boarding a flight for MEL?
It seems (from the above) that he made it on board an AD-ML flight and was detained on arrival.
He still is an idiot though Apparently he agrees......"in hindsight, it was as dumb as you would ever, ever get."
Edit: PS Did he steal the cutlery?[

[Woomera]

Mr Hunt claimed he was testing airline security when he took out metal forks on the Qantas flight.

:yuk: :yuk: :yuk:

[Buster Hyman]

Perhaps he should've tried the cardboard boxes instead?

[sprocket]

Woomera wroteMr Hunt claimed he was testing airline security when he took out metal forks on the Qantas flight.

Its a good thing he didn't drop his flys then.

[Chimbu chuckles]

I can just see ol' Rexy hijacking an aircraft too.

Please, a little common sense. We're surely overdue. While being frisked in London not so long ago I offered to show the frisker the humoungous fire axe on the cockpit rear bulkhead.

How about the 'security' powers that be stop treating everyone as potential 911 terrorists and concentrate on the baddies....who, btw, are far too smart to get caught at a metal detector/xray machine in the departure terminal.


Chuck

[bekolblockage]

Just shows had bad things have got when we have passengers being "startled" by metal forks!!!
Just what was the offence that Rexy has supposedly committed?- apart from nicking the cutlery from the Qantas Club and maybe being a bit of a smart a$$.
Every airline I've been on in the last 2 years has had metal forks and plastic knives except KLM which had all metal stuff.
I think the point that he was making was that what is the use of going through all the metal detectors if you waltz off the the Club lounge and stick a handful of metal stuff in your pockets afterwards?
Similar to an airport not too far from here, where they take nail clippers off you, but the airside restaurant has a dirty great carving knife left out on display to the public at lunch time! Go figure.

[Cactus Jack]

Silly thing about all this is that they actually give you metal forks on board Qantas business class. Knives are plastic, but same ol' metal forks.

Yebeda, yebeda. He still an idiot though folks.

[4dogs]

Folks,

Yes, security is irritating but inevitable.

The Yahoo story fills in the gap about what happens when you have a big ego/small brain facing a little inconvenience:
The airport official was backed up by witnesses who said that after being told to remove his shoes, and then his belt which had a metal buckle, Hunt petulantly dropped his trousers.

A Qantas spokesman said the incident was simply a publicity stunt.

"We have a huge investment in security and we take it seriously but we can't do anything about publicity-seekers," the spokesman said.

Hunt admitted losing control after his security screening in Adelaide.

Even after the truth came out, pea-brain can't quite let the facts interfere with his version of events:

"My denim jeans were down around my Hush Puppies, my Y-fronts went full view over the flaps of my long-sleeve shirt," Hunt said.

"I was dacked.

What is going to be interesting is the political knee-jerk reaction to this idiot and his stupid behaviour. At least plan on all food and drink outlets airside of the security barrier being required to use only plastic utensils and containers - the worst result would be requiring future airport layouts to have all hospitality outlets on the ground side so that the current utility of airport lounges would be largely negated.

As for his personal situation, he should be charged with larceny and the airlines should ban him for at least 6 months - especially now that he can get to Darwin by train for his fishing trips.

Stay Alive,

[BankAngle50]

Rex--What a d1ckhead!

On certain sectors on the 744 all the pax get a metal knife and fork. I think SYD-JNB is one, but it changes so often. So who really cares! On all J class domestic they give a metal fork as previously stated in this thread. What about pax taking duty free glass bottle of booze on board? This could be smashed and then used as a pretty effective weapon, as demonstrated in a lot of pubs in the UK on any given football day. Shall we also remove the mirrors from the loos, which could be broken and the glass slivers wrapped with towel to make knives. I laugh when they take a pair of nail cutters from an old lady, although usually it annoys me how rude they are in doing so. :mad:

We all know how annoying and unpractical those secura-goons are! For eg, when they ask me to take my shoes off in front of the pax for no other purpose but to for fill their own little ego power trips. Stating the obvious, I need only push fwd, so I don’t need to hide anything in my shoe you assho1es! If I had wanted to do anything, then perhaps I would have already done so in the last 15 years. Get practical and stop wasting the crews time by pissing us off, or go back to bouncing at clubs or what every you bottom dwellers were doing prior to asking me for my car keys.:yuk:

I propose the following; all pax and crew fly nude with no baggage. It will be good for the economy at the other end. :O

All I’m saying is surely there must be some common sense about all this. Security should stop wasting my time by looking at my shoes and watch. After all if the box cutters come on my flight (which would be easy as pie to do so) the only real defences will be my fire axe, FA’s with what ever, and pax fighting back. We all know this don’t we?

But Rex old boy you are still a “d1ckhead” for trying this on.

[ACMS]

Yep they should be spending more time on real security.
Not long ago I passed through DXB airport, seems they had Black and Decker cordless drills on sale INSIDE THE SECURITY area!!
And the idiots wouldn't let me take a small pair of scissors through.
ADL also seem anal retentive in the International terminal, I've had quite a few run ins with those little smart a###s

Oh well I guess I'll just have to clock my FO with the crow bar or use my pen.

You've got to wonder.

[Cactus Jack]

I really believe that your proposal has merit, Bank Angle. We will have to do something about the ol' boiler CSM's and those FA's battin' for the other team though.

Geez, you'd be bloody cold on the Tassie overnights though! Wouldn't be quite as impressive as usual!

[Pinky the pilot]

I tend to agree with posters critical of some aspects of the security debate. After all; there are many ways to commit deadly mahem with seemingly the most innocuous of objects. I once had it shown to me how to inflict serious injury with a newspaper!
But I suspect that all the current security blather is inflicted upon everyone simply because the Government must be seen to be doing something! Even if it is half baked .

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

[Hugh Jarse]

Well at least Rex (like him or loathe him) has bought the airport security issue back to the fore again. We all know the weaknesses in the system.

Hopefully the government will pick up the ball (this time) and work on improving it.

Bank Angle 50, it also pisses me off to have to remove my shoes every time I pass through security, but I accept that this is the way it has to be. Not all terrorists will wear good quality RM's or Colorado's etc (with the steel last in the instep ;) that always sets off the metal detector). I just take 'em off and make a joke about it if there are PAX around.

I don't know if I'd drop my dacks though......that's enough to scare Osama into surrendering:yuk:

[BankAngle50]

Hugh Jarse

Yes the RMs will do it every time. Perhaps when combined with the Swiss steel around my wrist it’s too much and you get beeped every time. I tacitly agree with you, but why must we accept this "as the way it has to be?" I have operated out of airports where they just waive the crew through (non Aussie ports). Hence using some degree of logic and common sense which is all I’m asking. Like i said, I need only push fwd and I don’t need to conceal a razor in my boots!

I agree with your sentiments though. If I am correct in paraphrasing you by saying “just get it over with”:ok:

[Pimp Daddy]

Not all terrorists will wear good quality RM's or Colorado's etc (with the steel last in the instep that always sets off the metal detector)

Having said that, I just some Colorado casual shoes (the trendy bowling shoe type jobbies, pretty swish)

I get the TRG turn up when I go thru Domestic screening (shoes off, rubber glove etc) yet waltz thru International screening in MEL, SYD, AKL with no dramas at all.

Can't understand it some times.

[halas]

Whilst working for EK, l have to say l do enjoy the the sectors in and out of Oz and the UK where l get to appreciate the joys of plastic cutlery. The guise is either knife only, fork only or the whole shoot'n match.

It's rather like going on a picnic.

The worst part is trying to explain to other crew why we bother since a plastic knife stuck in the body is probably worse than a steel one, as you can snap off the bit sticking out.

Looking forward to my next Perth trip.

halas

[apacau]

Qantas should take their security seriously, bite the bullet and ban him for a year. Poor Rex - no qantas club, no business class seating!!! I think the majority of the public would support Qantas on this one as well.

[Douglas Mcdonnell]

On the way out in the ratings game. What better way to get some publicity. What a prize fool. He should be punished for his thick head actions.

For fork sake rex!!!!

[bekolblockage]

Just remind me again- what was the actual offence committed by having metal forks on the aircraft?

[Towering Q]

On the subject of those walk through metal detectors, I had the pleasure of having a stainless steel plate and 14 screws inserted into my lower leg last year as a result of a motorbike mishap:O and I expected 21 questions and a specialist referral to get me onboard.

After putting phone, keys etc into the plastic box I walked through the magic doorway without any alarms going off. As I had some time to kill I asked the nice lady standing nearby, no doubt on the lookout for Bin Liners henchmen, why her machine didn't register the fact that I had a considerable amount of hardware contained 'within' my person.

She said that it only rated a 4 on the sensitivity meter and wasn't enough to set the alarm off.:confused:

Am I missing something here? Shouldn't it be metal or no metal? Wouldn't a blade in a shoe lining also register a low score and be passed through?:uhoh:

[Woomera]

ToweringQ. Stainless Steel or Titanium? I suspect titanium would produce a far lower reading.

My comment (on the previous page) was in relation to anyone being stupid enough to test (or antagonise) the airport security, rather than any reflection on nicking Kwonnas cutlery!

Woomera

[Pinky the pilot]

Interesting comment Towering Q; Back in 1992 when I was discharged from Townsville Base Hospital with a spine held together by two stainless steel rods and four screws I set off every metal detector at every airport I went through.
Got some very interesting (and sympathetic) comments from the personnel manning the check points once the reason for me setting the alarm off was established.
Of course that was quite some time ago.

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.