TSA Tables Plan to Allow Knives on Planes

The Transportation Security Administration is delaying a plan that would have allowed passengers, beginning Thursday, to bring small knives and sporting goods on flights.
A plan to allow airline passengers to carry small knives is being tabled amid protests from flight attendants and air...
A plan to allow airline passengers to carry small knives is being tabled amid protests from flight attendants and air marshals.Photo: Transportation Security Administration

The Transportation Security Administration is delaying a plan that would have allowed passengers, beginning Thursday, to bring small knives and sporting goods on flights.

The TSA, in a statement issued Tuesday to Wired, said the agency is postponing the plan to consider feedback from a committee of stakeholders. Air marshals and flight attendants, for example, have expressed displeasure with the plan, which TSA administrator John Pistole said last month was the result of "an enhanced understanding of current intelligence."

The agency did not say if the rules would ever be implemented.

Just last month, the agency responsible for airline security screening announced the easing of carry-on restrictions that would also allow ski poles, lacrosse sticks, billiard cues and up to two golf clubs to be carried on commercial flights. Small pocket knives less than 2.36 inches and under a half-inch wide also were to be permissible as long as the blade didn't lock. Box cutters remained a no-no.

The TSA said it confiscates around 2,000 small knives from passengers a day.

Baseball bats were excluded because, apparently, a hijacker could do more damage with that than a hockey stick, pool cue, golf club or small knife.

The TSA had said the forthcoming rule change was "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."

One rule that didn't change was that you're still considered a terrorist if you bring on board gel deodorant weighing more than 3.4 ounces or bottled water.

The TSA has been throwing frequent travelers a bone, and has recently launched a program known as TSA Pre check in dozens of airports. Pre-approved travelers undergo expedited screening and my leave on their shoes, belt and jacket. Laptops can remain in their carrying case.