Supposed Pilot refuses Security and gets arrested.
Joined: Feb 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 298
Likes: 160
From: Wythenshawe
Beware the young or embittered security person who starts off impolitely. They can make an unpleasant start to your whole day. Silence and compliance are the order of the day. No jokes, minimal eye contact, and a gentle complaint to their manager once they have finished running the rule over you. This nastiness can often apply in the UK, USA, and especially in Canada. These people seem to want to prove themselves, or they clearly have an axe to grind about pilots. (In any event, no jests about fire axes).
My very favourite security screening was at the resort Dominican Republic airports; Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, and La Romana. Great mutual respect, smooth process.
Very worst was at Manchester Airport (MAN). Absolutely no surprises there.
My very favourite security screening was at the resort Dominican Republic airports; Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, and La Romana. Great mutual respect, smooth process.
Very worst was at Manchester Airport (MAN). Absolutely no surprises there.
Joined: Mar 2015
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 68
Likes: 14
From: CYUL
MissChief wote
"(In any event, no jests about fire axes)."
you must know the Fire axe story?
A certain Captain, working a flight, for my Airline, had his nail clipper taken away by a zealous Security Screener in YYZ.
He returned to the Rapidair Lounge, with the Fire Axe from the cockpit. And told the Screening Agent,
"You may have my nail clipper, but I have this !"
Think Jack Nicholson in The Shinning..
I wasn't there, but knowing the Captain I believe it.
Later I was passing through YOW airport, in uniform working a flight waiting on the gate. The security screener wanted to take away a pair of tiny
needle nosed pliers I had just bought. I asked for the Supervisor, and explained to her , quietly, I had a 5 foot fire axe in the cockpit, so taking away my pliers was a bit extreme.
I offered to get the Fire axe and show it to her.
She let me go with the pliers.
"(In any event, no jests about fire axes)."
you must know the Fire axe story?
A certain Captain, working a flight, for my Airline, had his nail clipper taken away by a zealous Security Screener in YYZ.
He returned to the Rapidair Lounge, with the Fire Axe from the cockpit. And told the Screening Agent,
"You may have my nail clipper, but I have this !"
Think Jack Nicholson in The Shinning..
I wasn't there, but knowing the Captain I believe it.
Later I was passing through YOW airport, in uniform working a flight waiting on the gate. The security screener wanted to take away a pair of tiny
needle nosed pliers I had just bought. I asked for the Supervisor, and explained to her , quietly, I had a 5 foot fire axe in the cockpit, so taking away my pliers was a bit extreme.
I offered to get the Fire axe and show it to her.
She let me go with the pliers.
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 36
Likes: 18
From: Aft Galley
As for the tales of overzealous security, back in 2006 when they had a knee-jerk reaction to ban liquids they tried to take the ink cartridge off one of our captains, he politely explained that he didn't need the ink cartridge to do any damage given he is the one flying the bloody plane.
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 368
Likes: 46
From: Mk. 1 desk at present...
MissChief wote
"(In any event, no jests about fire axes)."
you must know the Fire axe story?
A certain Captain, working a flight, for my Airline, had his nail clipper taken away by a zealous Security Screener in YYZ.
He returned to the Rapidair Lounge, with the Fire Axe from the cockpit. And told the Screening Agent,
"You may have my nail clipper, but I have this !"
Think Jack Nicholson in The Shinning..
I wasn't there, but knowing the Captain I believe it.
Later I was passing through YOW airport, in uniform working a flight waiting on the gate. The security screener wanted to take away a pair of tiny
needle nosed pliers I had just bought. I asked for the Supervisor, and explained to her , quietly, I had a 5 foot fire axe in the cockpit, so taking away my pliers was a bit extreme.
I offered to get the Fire axe and show it to her.
She let me go with the pliers.
"(In any event, no jests about fire axes)."
you must know the Fire axe story?
A certain Captain, working a flight, for my Airline, had his nail clipper taken away by a zealous Security Screener in YYZ.
He returned to the Rapidair Lounge, with the Fire Axe from the cockpit. And told the Screening Agent,
"You may have my nail clipper, but I have this !"
Think Jack Nicholson in The Shinning..
I wasn't there, but knowing the Captain I believe it.
Later I was passing through YOW airport, in uniform working a flight waiting on the gate. The security screener wanted to take away a pair of tiny
needle nosed pliers I had just bought. I asked for the Supervisor, and explained to her , quietly, I had a 5 foot fire axe in the cockpit, so taking away my pliers was a bit extreme.
I offered to get the Fire axe and show it to her.
She let me go with the pliers.
My carry on contained a tiny (3" long) adjustable spanner; the security screener saw it and wanted to confiscate it. I asked why... you could see the wheels spinning behind her eyes as she groped for a justification and eventually she blurted out... "you could MAKE something with it!"
Joined: Apr 2008
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 611
Likes: 249
From: on the ground
Oh Gods... that reminds me of an experience I had, paxing through... JFK I think it was, a year or two after 9/11.
My carry on contained a tiny (3" long) adjustable spanner; the security screener saw it and wanted to confiscate it. I asked why... you could see the wheels spinning behind her eyes as she groped for a justification and eventually she blurted out... "you could MAKE something with it!"
My carry on contained a tiny (3" long) adjustable spanner; the security screener saw it and wanted to confiscate it. I asked why... you could see the wheels spinning behind her eyes as she groped for a justification and eventually she blurted out... "you could MAKE something with it!"
On one occasion they refused to allow him to carry arc welding rods (in his checked luggage) because they insisted they were explosive.
I mean, they do look vaguely like sparklers, but they don't do anything at all until you put at least 50 Amps through them, and then they just melt; they certainly don't ignite...
He flew the next day instead, with no dramas at all over the same welding rods.
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 2
From: london
Beware the young or embittered security person who starts off impolitely. They can make an unpleasant start to your whole day. Silence and compliance are the order of the day. No jokes, minimal eye contact, and a gentle complaint to their manager once they have finished running the rule over you. This nastiness can often apply in the UK, USA, and especially in Canada. These people seem to want to prove themselves, or they clearly have an axe to grind about pilots. (In any event, no jests about fire axes).
My very favourite security screening was at the resort Dominican Republic airports; Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, and La Romana. Great mutual respect, smooth process.
Very worst was at Manchester Airport (MAN). Absolutely no surprises there.
My very favourite security screening was at the resort Dominican Republic airports; Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, and La Romana. Great mutual respect, smooth process.
Very worst was at Manchester Airport (MAN). Absolutely no surprises there.
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 911
Likes: 334
From: uk
So glad I’m retired from all that. Generally polite but minimal communication from me unless they were obviously very friendly or as sometimes, the opposite. Chippy and unpleasant with a bewildering anti pilot vibe. Manchester Airport is an absolute dump populated by some of the latter type.
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Washington
Honestly the guy in that video looks like someone who snapped way before the camera even started rolling. Real pilots go through security like everyone else, I’ve seen them do it a hundred times. Whatever he was thinking there wasn’t normal procedure for anyone. I’ve dealt with someone getting arrested at an airport before, and the whole thing usually moves fast once security decides you’re not cooperating. They don’t play around in those spots. When it happened to me, the only semi-sane moment of the whole mess was talking to King Stahlman Bail Bonds later on, just trying to figure out what exactly happens after someone gets hauled off. The rest of it felt like chaos. Wouldn’t surprise me if the guy in the video was having a breakdown or had something else going on. That level of entitlement or confusion isn’t how actual crew behave.
Joined: Nov 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,144
Likes: 741
From: UK
Indeed.
I think "we" collectively get the security we create. If we are all pleasant and calm and compliant, then the security people will generally be also - certainly in my experience. I think if they have a stream of people who are difficult, awkward and a bit mouthy; then security will get frustrated and uptight.
Anything security ask me; my reply is , "yep, whatever you need me to do", or " ..do you want me to open that....?". I also smile and say hello as I arrive - especially when in uniform - and crucially; I thank them at each stage as I am allowed through.
I've only ever had two minor problems - both travelling as a pax: One was forgetting that my liquids were still in my carry on bag instead of my hold bag- completely my fault.
The second was not removing a handkerchief from my pocket, (but I had removed everything else). The pat-down guy gave me a bollocking but I apologised and said truthfully that I had not understood what he had said prior to the pat-down, (he had a very strong accent). He must have had problems with his accent before because he just let me go.
.
I think "we" collectively get the security we create. If we are all pleasant and calm and compliant, then the security people will generally be also - certainly in my experience. I think if they have a stream of people who are difficult, awkward and a bit mouthy; then security will get frustrated and uptight.
Anything security ask me; my reply is , "yep, whatever you need me to do", or " ..do you want me to open that....?". I also smile and say hello as I arrive - especially when in uniform - and crucially; I thank them at each stage as I am allowed through.
I've only ever had two minor problems - both travelling as a pax: One was forgetting that my liquids were still in my carry on bag instead of my hold bag- completely my fault.
The second was not removing a handkerchief from my pocket, (but I had removed everything else). The pat-down guy gave me a bollocking but I apologised and said truthfully that I had not understood what he had said prior to the pat-down, (he had a very strong accent). He must have had problems with his accent before because he just let me go.
.
Last edited by Uplinker; 11th December 2025 at 10:36.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 97
Likes: 28
From: Saint Malo France
Security: Flight Crew Issues
Indeed.
I think "we" collectively get the security we create. If we are all pleasant and calm and compliant, then the security people will generally be also - certainly in my experience. I think if they have a stream of people who are difficult, awkward and a bit mouthy; then security will get frustrated and uptight.
Anything security ask me; my reply is , "yep, whatever you need me to do", or " ..do you want me to open that....?". I also smile and say hello as I arrive - especially when in uniform - and crucially; I thank them at each stage as I am allowed through.
I've only ever had two minor problems - both travelling as a pax: One was forgetting that my liquids were still in my carry on bag instead of my hold bag- completely my fault.
The second was not removing a handkerchief from my pocket, (but I had removed everything else). The pat-down guy gave me a bollocking but I apologised and said truthfully that I had not understood what he had said prior to the pat-down, (he had a very strong accent). He must have had problems with his accent before because he just let me go.
.
I think "we" collectively get the security we create. If we are all pleasant and calm and compliant, then the security people will generally be also - certainly in my experience. I think if they have a stream of people who are difficult, awkward and a bit mouthy; then security will get frustrated and uptight.
Anything security ask me; my reply is , "yep, whatever you need me to do", or " ..do you want me to open that....?". I also smile and say hello as I arrive - especially when in uniform - and crucially; I thank them at each stage as I am allowed through.
I've only ever had two minor problems - both travelling as a pax: One was forgetting that my liquids were still in my carry on bag instead of my hold bag- completely my fault.
The second was not removing a handkerchief from my pocket, (but I had removed everything else). The pat-down guy gave me a bollocking but I apologised and said truthfully that I had not understood what he had said prior to the pat-down, (he had a very strong accent). He must have had problems with his accent before because he just let me go.
.
We’ve had lots of issues here in Australia !
We don’t have seperate Crew Security Lanes here and with the new Scanners they are very (very) sensitive.
Australia has installed advanced Computed Tomography (CT) scanners and 3D body scanners .
Pat downs are common in “sensitive areas” and their was a big (Australian Newspaper) Article recently here in Australia quoting that Qantas Flight Crew often feel that when going through security it’s like being in a “Jail” (there words not mine ) !
I know they (Security) have to do job but sometimes their is “lack of respect “ towards Crew .
Cheers
Buddy
Last edited by dijon moutard; 11th December 2025 at 11:39. Reason: Grammar
Joined: Oct 2018
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 1,649
From: Ferrara
It's not just Crew who suffer from "disrespect" - it affects everyone. The problem is that security is a really boring, badly paid job. Imagine spending 8 hours a day at JFK or LHR telling people who clearly can't read that they have to take things out their pockets for the 1000th time that day. They switch off any empathy, they only see people as identical units. And if someone creates then that's interesting and they're going to get involved, if only because it's different. Makes their day.
I was advised early in my travelling life to ALWAYS treat security, customs and immigration with the utmost personal respect - Sir, Ma'am, Officer, Lt., - never volunteer anything, be as pleasant as you can and whatever you do CONFORM TO INSTRUCTIONS. And if that includes putting my bag through the scanner 5 times, as it did one afternoon at Madrid T4, then that's the luck of the game...............
I was advised early in my travelling life to ALWAYS treat security, customs and immigration with the utmost personal respect - Sir, Ma'am, Officer, Lt., - never volunteer anything, be as pleasant as you can and whatever you do CONFORM TO INSTRUCTIONS. And if that includes putting my bag through the scanner 5 times, as it did one afternoon at Madrid T4, then that's the luck of the game...............
Joined: Nov 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,144
Likes: 741
From: UK
Yes, exactly.
We have to be careful not to treat security as second class citizens. They probably hate their job as much as we hate the necessity of it.
By being pleasant to security; saying 'morning and thank you, and being generally polite and compliant, maybe a little bit of self-deprecating banter; security will gradually relax and realise that aircrew are nice people (generally).
Even, as you say, on that odd day when your bag has to go through several times.
Had this guy worn his ID around his neck or on his shirt, as we are supposed to do; security wouldn't have had to keep asking to see it and everything kicking off.
Don't get annoyed, don't question them, don't tell them their job or start getting arsey or tutting, sighing or getting an attitude.
Just remember - we are going out to fly a modern multi-million Euro aircraft, they are not, so there is no need to rub their noses in it. Just be nice and respectful.
We have to be careful not to treat security as second class citizens. They probably hate their job as much as we hate the necessity of it.
By being pleasant to security; saying 'morning and thank you, and being generally polite and compliant, maybe a little bit of self-deprecating banter; security will gradually relax and realise that aircrew are nice people (generally).
Even, as you say, on that odd day when your bag has to go through several times.
Had this guy worn his ID around his neck or on his shirt, as we are supposed to do; security wouldn't have had to keep asking to see it and everything kicking off.
Don't get annoyed, don't question them, don't tell them their job or start getting arsey or tutting, sighing or getting an attitude.
Just remember - we are going out to fly a modern multi-million Euro aircraft, they are not, so there is no need to rub their noses in it. Just be nice and respectful.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 954
Likes: 64
From: england
I had one security agent at Bristol ask me if my son was autistic because he didn’t understand the orders being barked at him in English. I politely informed him, no, he is Spanish. I guess I could have taken it further, but I figure we all have bad days.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 829
Likes: 98
From: Germany
Overhere, security personnel is paid quite well. It is often their personal choice whether they set a comfortable scene for their clients - yes, we are clients as we all have to pay money for security checks! - and then receive respectful behaviour in return, or not. Luckily, we can use crew/staff security lanes here when travelling as passengers on duty and that makes life so much easier.
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
From: Santander
Well, in my opinion, we shouldn’t be treated exactly like normal passengers. We’ve been screened thoroughly to obtain our IDs, and we’re practically daily “customers” of the security staff. And I don’t mean skipping or bypassing any procedures, but simply being treated with a bit more kindness. When I was based in the UK, I’m pretty sure they took some hidden pleasure in messing with a pilot…
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 43
From: On the magic bus with Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy
There was a young lady working security at Pudong who did very thorough, tactile pat-downs. The eye contact enhanced the experience. Often was the case that one would forget that one's phone was still in one's pocket.
Last edited by Qanchor; 11th December 2025 at 20:44.
Joined: Feb 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 118
From: USA
It's beyond comprehension why they find the need to screen flight crews when every pilot has a lethal weapon at the end of each arm. And, a federally-mandated crash axe in the cockpit of every airline airplane. In FAA Land, it's an MEL no-go item. The same axe you can't bring through security screening is required onboard by the same people jerking you around at a "security" screening.
FAR 121.309(e)
Logic has no place in this process.
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 542
From: Lost again...
Bafanguy
You and many other miss the point entirely.
Your suggestion that security should not be as restrictive for you because you have a crash axe in the cockpit and could crash the aeroplane if you wanted to therefore you should be allowed to carry stuff through security presupposes that the threat is by you, to your flight.
The actual concern is that aircrew could carry something through and then pass it to someone else for use on a different flight.
Let's imagine for a moment that security was less restrictive for crews. How long do you think it would be before some crew-member gets a text on their phone showing a picture of their family with a gun to their heads and a message saying "you will be given a package. Take it airside and give it to the person that approaches you on the other side"?
You and many other miss the point entirely.
Your suggestion that security should not be as restrictive for you because you have a crash axe in the cockpit and could crash the aeroplane if you wanted to therefore you should be allowed to carry stuff through security presupposes that the threat is by you, to your flight.
The actual concern is that aircrew could carry something through and then pass it to someone else for use on a different flight.
Let's imagine for a moment that security was less restrictive for crews. How long do you think it would be before some crew-member gets a text on their phone showing a picture of their family with a gun to their heads and a message saying "you will be given a package. Take it airside and give it to the person that approaches you on the other side"?
Joined: Oct 2018
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 1,649
From: Ferrara
"We’ve been screened thoroughly to obtain our IDs.."
yes but people who've been screened still get mental problems, hit the bottle, get religion, change their beliefs............ in other words act like everyone else. Hence the need to check EVERYONE every time. you may have changed for the worse....
yes but people who've been screened still get mental problems, hit the bottle, get religion, change their beliefs............ in other words act like everyone else. Hence the need to check EVERYONE every time. you may have changed for the worse....