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:ok:.

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?!

US airport security :E

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=z7AWw7...eature=related

If I was a wannabe terrorist I think it'd be pretty pointless to start from the UK anyway when it'd be much easier to start my journey at pretty well any west African airport.

Over the past few years I have flown regularly into and out of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Pointe Noire, Malabo, Angola, Port Gentil, Abidjan and Douala airports. Almost all of these have no decent security. Quite often the x-ray machines don't work. In almost all cases, the only question you will be asked by "security" is "what do have for me?" Pointe Noire was by far the worst for this, with Malabo a close second.

On arrival in Douala after a short flight from Malabo, I was handed a "security checked" sticker to put on my suitcase for the onward flight to CDG, with no checks being carried out at all. At most airports, the agent who would pick us up and take us to the airport was a buddy of the security staff, resulting in no checks on checked-in baggage.

Most European airline do have their own security staff on flights from west Africa who make checks on hand baggage before boarding but this often done in a rush on the tarmac at night and is clearly far from ideal. Some airlines, e.g. BA, also insist that checked-in baggage is identified on the tarmac by the SLF it belongs to but that doesn't necessarily mean it's safe!

Why would any terrorist start from the UK when he could blow up a plane full of Europeans and Americans on their way home from Africa?

Because he wants to fly the plane into Canary Wharf, or the Houses of Parliament, not a million miles from London City Airport??

yeah....... no offence Jaycee but you are way off the mark!

My point was I could easily have had a criminal record and even been on a terrorist watch list but I didnt have to show any ID to prove I was the name on the ticket, nor did the security check me and my bag+clothes properly. If I was a terrorist I could have slammed a BaE146 full of fuel and passengers into Canary Wharf or the Houses of Parliament.

What would send bigger shockwaves across world media/governments? African flight blows up mid-air or image of a London landmark with a plane sized flaming hole and several hundred/thousand dead??

Anyhooooo...! As it happened, I wasn't really in the mood that day so I stayed in my seat and read FHM

...assuming you could get into the cockpit........146s locked????

Went through security at T1 LHR last week. Laptops can now stay in your bag...

One day I want to take the crash axe through and see what happens. :E

To put a different spin on things:

At XXXX (small airport in Ireland) last year, I'm about to go through security to get to my company's Kingair. It's parked next to a RYR 737. I begin to take off my belt, and put my bag on the X-ray machine when the security chap pipes up:

"aaah now, there's no need for you to be doing that. You're hardly going to sabotage your own aircraft now, are you?"

Thank you XXXX security, it's just a shame I can't name you for fear of having you hauled over the coals by the DFT!!!