Posted on 01/04/2010 6:12:55 PM PST by WmShirerAdmirer
Colette Hume on board her flight to the US Security measures for flights inbound to America stepped up a gear following the attempted attack on a plane heading for the US on Christmas Day.
How then was I was able to unwittingly carry a 200ml hairspray can - twice the liquid limit - onto a Qantas flight to the US, after two separate supposedly rigorous security checks?
Let me make it clear, there was no intention to flout the rules. It wasn't an attempt to test the rigour of the new security. It was a mistake on my part to put the aerosol can in my hand luggage.
It wasn't until I boarded the flight and opened the bag to search for a book that I discovered the large aerosol tin at the bottom of my bag.
So why wasn't it spotted?
My cabin bag was first scanned after I checked in at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport for the QF107 flight to LA and New York on Monday morning.
Security searches
In common with every flight at every airport, as I walked to departures the hand luggage was X-rayed along with my coat and camera bag, while I walked through a scanner.
No one spotted the spray can at that point. Had I known it was there I would have handed it in.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
"Two individuals, both well-known members of extremist forums, according to Aviran, have been leading these discussions which include the use of Botulinum toxin. Botulinum is one of the deadliest substances known to mankind."
"The two individuals have been participating in Islamic Internet forums for several years and are known to the intelligence gatherers at Terrogence."
"These are not kids talking about using biological agents to attack planes. These are two very sophisticated participants who are experts in chemical and biological agents."
http://abcnews.go.com/International/northwest-flight-253-terrorist-attempt-online-extremists-discussed-blowing-planes/story?id=9471721
A group of young men sitting behind me had hoped to take advantage of the free alcohol served throughout the long flight, but they were told by staff that the authorities "wouldn't be happy if they continued".
grrrr
This last Aug. I flew from my home in Maui over to Sacramento with a short stop in Honolulu to change planes. I didn’t have a good carry on so I borrowed one from a friend but did not know there was a hunting knife in one of the little zip pockets. (a fold up one like a buck knife) I found it after I got to my destination and called home to let the friend know that his knife made it through. He had missed the knife and didn’t know what had happened to it, he thought he lost it somewhere. Well, he has his knife back now. Security missed it throughout my flight.
I flew from Cincinnati to Akron with a Box Cutter in my planner (I was an event manager and carried it on jobs). I called TSA at the airport when I got back and told them. The supervisors were not pleased. Given that I’m protestant, there was really no reason for panic though.
How then was I was able to unwittingly carry a 200ml hairspray can ....after two separate supposedly rigorous security checks?
Maybe she didn’t look Islamic enough to warrent a second look!
By the 3rd and 4th flight, I neglected to take the baggy out for inspection. Nobody asked me about it or said anything as it went through the scanner. I didn't realize it until I was on the final flight, and it didn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling either.
TSA is a joke.
Mrs. Prince of Space
Back years ago, before this modern age of nanny state TSA insanity I’d fly commercial with a bag full of interesting stuff, like a mini oxy-torch, and cans of this and that, and some good knives. Let’s go Israeli here — that’s the only kind of system that can work, long term.
There was plenty of reason to panic. They refuse to profile so a protestant is more of a risk than an Amish.
I hate to profile, but just look at the screeners. They are one rung lower than a prison guard. I make it a point to bring something to defend myself through security every time I fly. And I fly about 12-14 times a year, and I always get the contraband through.
Heck, I got on with a stun gun in my coat pocket that I forgot I had there.
The TSA is the most useless federal agency ever.
Paris is probably the worst airport in the world to connect through. However, they have one incredibly efficient practice: the rubber trays that we place our shoes, computer, etc. in are returned to the loading side of the x-ray scanner by an inclined roller conveyor. No need for a TSA lackey to use a push cart.
Travel overseas once or twice and your realize quickly that the TSA rules are an absolute joke. Half the times overseas I do not remove my shoes, computer, toothpaste, etc.
Twits
Standing
Around
(This was back in the day, when 3-1/2" was the international limit, and Al-Mar had specifically designed the blade to be to be 3-3/8"). It's a nice little weapon, and I need to dust it off and start carrying it again (after I check State law).
Oh, and if I took care to remove my watch, coins, beltbuckle, etc., half the time it didn’t even set off the metal detector.
Really, though, how many different sorts of things in how many bags per hour can a person running a luggage x-ray machine be reasonably expected to notice without it stretching their attention beyond its limits? Maybe a couple of things like guns, large knives and obvious bombs, but they’re supposed to be looking for all sorts of contraband in amongst all the clutter that shows up on the screen - drugs, liquids, who knows what else? I’m not surprised if all sorts of things can slip through when they’re looking at every single bag coming through. A more selective approach would reduce workload and increase the chances of finding prohibited items.
Agreed, and since 9/12 there have been what, 5 terrorists riding planes?
It is like Admiral Yamamoto half-heartedly searching for the US fleet before the Battle of Midway. The chance of actually finding something of interest is so low, why bother putting your heart into it? You may as well not try, but in case the boss is watching, you have to keep up appearances until your next pay check comes.
In the mean time the pointlessness of your job gets to you and your attitude gets worse every day. Such is life when the Man gives you your salary. No personal incentive to try harder.
A friend of mine in 2005 got on an airplane with 2 6-inch long locking blades in his carry-on. Went right through security with no problems.
I once met someone who had one of those large Western-style belt buckles with a sculpture of a pistol on it, only it wasn’t a sculpture, it was an actual mini-pistol which detached from the belt buckle. He told me he got it through airport security.
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