You know that miniature Swiss army knife you were planning to take in your carry-on bag on your next trip? Forget about it.
In March, the Transportation Security Administration had announced a decision to allow passengers to once again carry small, folding blades up to 2.36 inches (6 centimeters) in length, such as small pocket knives and foil cutters for corkscrews, on board commercial airplanes. These items had been prohibited following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The policy revision, the TSA said, was "part of an overall Risk-Based Security approach" designed to allow TSA agents "to better focus their efforts on finding higher threat items such as explosives."
But yesterday the TSA announced that it was rescinding the change "after extensive engagement with the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, law enforcement officials, passenger advocates, and other important stakeholders."
"The results of today are...a good lesson in collective action," reads a statement from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which spearheaded the opposition on safety grounds. Flight attendants were joined by pilots, law enforcement and members of Congress.
Also to have been permitted once again on board were toy baseball bats, lacrosse and hockey sticks, billiard cues, ski poles and up to two golf clubs per passenger. Box cutters, like the ones used by the terrorists, were to remain prohibited. Like the blades, all these items must now continue to be packed in checked luggage, shipped ahead or left at home, or they'll be surrendered at the airport.
The flight attendants' slogan for the campaign was "No Knives on Planes Ever Again." That said, scissors with longer blades (up to four inches/10.16 centimeters) and small tools like screwdrivers have been permitted in cabins since 2005.
For a list of what's permitted on board and what's not, click here.
