12 March 2009

Guns, knives escape airport security check

PERTH Ã¢â¬' In TravelMole last week we ran a strong opinion piece from Cathay Pacific CEO Tony Tyler on the inconsistent application of security rules at airports

Tyler said that Ã¢â¬Åâœinconsistent and poorly conceivedÃ¢â¬~ rules governing things like gels, liquids, belts and shoes Ã¢â¬Åâœbring the whole security process into ridicule, while imposing unproductive cost onto the airlines and frustrating all concerned Ã¢â¬' passengers in particularÃ¢â¬~.

So what would Tyler have thought about events in Australia this week when two boys smuggled a stolen arsenal of handguns, knives and 3000 rounds of ammunition through Perth and Karratha airports in Western Australia.

The boys, aged 14 and 11, packed the weapons in their checked-in luggage on a Qantas flight from Karratha to Perth late on Monday.

The West Australian reported that on arrival in Perth, they retrieved the baggage and checked in for a Jetstar flight to Cairns, where they were arrested while attempting to board a third flight to outback Queensland.

Qantas has admitted that Ã¢â¬Åâœexplosive trace detectionÃ¢â¬~ X-ray machines failed to pick up the ammunition.

As well as ammunition, their baggage allegedly contained a Ruger revolver, a .22-calibre pistol, 14 knives and an assortment of other weapons.

A Qantas spokesman told the West Australian it was aware of the incident but there was Ã¢â¬Åâœabsolutely no flight security threatÃ¢â¬~.

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Your Comments (3)

Knife went undetected from SYD to MAN

Two years ago my husband took his sailing bag as his cabin bag from Sydney to Manchester via Bangkok and London Heathrow. When he unpacked in Manchester he found his stainless steel and very sharp sailing knife in the bag pocket. It had gone through hand luggage security screening at SYD, BKK and LHR T1 without being noticed. He wrote letter to British Airways advising them, and at the same time mentioned a minor problem with his seat SYD-LHR. BA's reply hardly mentioned the security issue but totally concentrated on the seat problem and gave him a small credit. To us, they completely missed the point.

By Lesley Hunt, Friday, March 13, 2009
Beware the Bangle

Yes, the airport security is really a joke. This type of things happens, yet I am constantly having to remove my killer (sling-back strappy open-toed god knows what they could be hiding) shoes and dangerous bangles each time I go through security (after I've lined up for an interminable amount of time because there are always not enough lanes open to cater for the amount of people). Let's not forget my hazardous 100gm light-weight, purse-size umbrella that was frisked in Brisbane, but managed to sneak through Sydney and Melbourne (probably camouflaged by my dodgy hair straightener which clearly is also sneaking through because we know how much damage they can do once they are plugged in and you accidentally touch them.) The other joke is that depending on which city you are in, what beeps as you go through security differs ie my dangerous bangle beeps in Brisbane but not in Melbourne???? It's all smoke and mirrors and always has been.

By Samantha Muspratt, Thursday, March 12, 2009
Excuse Airways

Amazing company Qantas, they have an answer to everything. If there is no inflight danger that makes it OK to carry weapons in the hold then, right ? WRONG !!!!

By johncook, Thursday, March 12, 2009