For the first time since the September 11th attacks, you will soon be able to bring certain small knives on an airplane:
The Transportation Security Administration will soon allow small knives and baseball bats on flights for the first time since the Sept. 11 attacks, drawing criticism from flight attendants who say the change is “poor and shortsighted.”
The new policy, announced Tuesday by TSA Administrator John Pistole at a speech in New York, takes effect April 25. Knives must have blades under 2.36 inches long and a half-inch wide and cannot have a blade that locks in place, as many knives do.
That’s not the only thing on the new list of permitted items, which also includes “novelty-sized and toy bats, billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and two golf clubs,” according to a TSA statement.
“This is part of an overall risk-based security approach, which allows transportation security officers to better focus their efforts on finding higher-threat items such as explosives,” TSA added.
TSA still bans more than 3.4 ounces of liquid, even if it is in an unopened, sealed container. Liquids — typically toiletries — also must be put in a clear plastic bag and taken out of the main bag for X-ray screenings.
So let me see if I’ve got this right. My Swiss Army Knife? Okay. My shampoo? Banned.
Yea, that makes sense.
