threatening items seized ....

[hobie]

Almost three quarters of a million potentially threatening items were seized from passengers at Canadian airports last year,

....thats over 14,000 items a week or more than 2,000 every day of the year!!!

http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1108146475.html

[Basil]

I presume that legally held firearms may be carried in checked baggage.
What are the Canadian rules ref ammo in the same suitcase?

[rotornut]

My wife had her nail clippers seized - what kind of weapon is that? The joke of it is that while travelling on Air Canada after 911, I was served a meal with a metal knife and fork.

[bealine]

My wife had her nail clippers seized - what kind of weapon is that?

.....Do you really want to know? WARNING - If you're squeamish, don't read on!

Okay then - On one of the aircraft hijacked on 09/11, the pointed end of a pair of tweezers or nail clippers were used to gouge out a stewardess' eye, forcing her to scream for help from the flight deck.

This horrific act convinced the flying crew that the hijackers mean business and enabled said hijackers to take control.

The lady in question (God love her) was then slashed across the throat with a razor blade embedded between two credit cards and discarded, her role in the operation no longer needed.

I am sorry to paint such a horrific, grisly account, but like 99.9% of the things we do in the business of aviation, it is as a direct result of loss of life.

[rotornut]

bealine,

Good point. However, a ball point pen could be used to the same effect. And certainly the eating utensils mentioned above on the AC flight.

[witchdoctor]

And most of these items are readily available in the shops airside, once you have passed through the final security check area. Neat way to assist airport retailers maintain profits if you ask me, because it does b*gger all for security.

[PaperTiger]

You were on board then bealine, and managed to miraculously survive ? Or got this 'information' at a seance perhaps ?

Save it for the pub, please.

[bealine]

You may pour as much scorn as you like, but this is the reason given to security personnel, during their training, to be particularly vigilant over these tiny items.

We know for a fact, because this is well documented, that flight attendants were killed before the hijackers gained control.

If you really want:-

http://www.airdisaster.com/special/special-0911.shtm

.......and, before you say another word, we're on the same side!!

[urdy gurdy]

take out nail clippers / scissors etc and you will be lucky to get 5 really dangerous items per day
like knitting needles for example

[supercarb]

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[Techman]

It's nothing but window-dressing and a real waste of resources this worldwide hunt for nail clippers and sewing kits. What really matters is intent. Those who intend to follow in the footsteps of Mohammed Atta will not be carrying any prohibited items, just as he didn't.

If you want to know how it should be done i suggest a flight in and out of Tel Aviv.

[bealine]

techman - Personally, I tend to agree with you. After all, we still sell whisky and we still allow cigarette lighters on board - voila!

However, tby making things tougher at security search points has a three-point effect:

1. It eliminates the risk of a casual, hitherto unplanned, incident.

2. It makes security staff more alert because there is a lot more to watch out for.

3. (and probably considered by the authorities the most important!) It boosts confidence among the travelling public that efforts are being made for their protection.

Even Tel Aviv, however, could do nothing against fanatics prepared to die themselves to achieve their target.

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Sorry, try this one:



http://www.airdisaster.com/special/special-0911.shtml

[PaperTiger]

You may pour as much scorn as you like, but this is the reason given to security personnel, during their training, to be particularly vigilant over these tiny items.

We know for a fact, because this is well documented, that flight attendants were killed before the hijackers gained control.

No disputing that crew and passenger(s) were stabbed and some killed during the takeover. However there is no evidence of the weaponry or exact details of the injuries such as you state. And while it may be er.. useful to embellish for the purposes of training security staff, it should not be stated as fact. I leave it to individuals to decide the appropriateness of such training methods.

[Globaliser]

Yup - a metal fork could do much more damage than the metal knives that you used to get, and the plastic knives given out can also often do more damage than the old metal knives. Some of it's all mad - I can understand why we might want to keep Stanley knives and cutthroat razors off the aircraft, but there are limits!

[Hunter58]

What about seat belt buckles? They are even installed...

Joke aside, there might be some agreably enforced attention to maybe unnecessary details, but what I don't like most of it is that on one security checkpoint something like a very tiny small (3mm long) scisor is allowed, and on the next not. At least to my experience the US based security enforcement agents have started to leard that it is not by being rude you get to what you want and start to copy their European and South American colleagues. And in Miami they even give you the chance to mail any confisctaed item to yourself if you like.

And, contrary to before 911 I have not seen any of the persons looking at that screen not paying attention, so I guess the 'nit-picking' over 'small details' is the price to pay for them actually being much more alert than before.

[sixmilehighclub]

Whatever is written on this thread I ask that we are responsible enough not to mention personal experiences of which airports let what items through. If I was a potential terrorist looking for airports with cracks in security, this would be a perfect place to do it.

Security are required to remove any item considered to be a 'potential weapon'.

PaperTiger: Bealines advice and comments are always far more helpful than your sarcastic remarks. I am lead to beleive the unfortunate 9/11 passengers were told to use their mobiles before impact, and this is how the initial murders were reported to loved ones and police who were contacted.

[PaperTiger]

Bealine's advice and comments are always far more helpful than your sarcastic remarks. I am lead to beleive the unfortunate 9/11 passengers were told to use their mobiles before impact, and this is how the initial murders were reported to loved ones and police who were contacted.

Instead of being led to believe 6mh, why don't you read the Commission's report, or any of a number of non-hysterical, non-speculative papers available with but a cursory search of the web. Although the truth may not be as 'helpful' or entertaining as it appears you would like.

And I thought we had done the lurking terrorist prooner thing to death. Go ahead and wag your finger if it helps, though

[bealine]

It was never my intention to mislead - however I can confirm that on September 12th security personnel were asked to pay particular attention to nail clippers, tweezers and safety razor blades for the reasons previously stated. At that time, there was no hint of "embellishment" - indeed, we were all so shocked at the atrocities, "gilding the lily" would have been unnecessary!

[sixmilehighclub]

Although the truth may not be as 'helpful' or entertaining as it appears you would like.

Yes Paper Tiger, because I liked how entertaining it was when I was on the phone to my sister and suddenly she was gone.

From fact and fiction we form opinions and beliefs. Only those on board would ever know the truth.

[PaperTiger]

Only those on board would ever know the truth.

The point I was making, although I could have worded it better.