Newark TSA Screeners Miss Hunting Knife, Allow Smoke Bomb

The hunting knife and smoke bomb

Hey, you may not be allowed to carry more than 3 ounces of liquids in your carry-on items, but some TSA screeners are apparently cool about letting a smoke bomb go through screening—and missing a hunting knife on a passenger! According to MyFoxNY, both incidents happened at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The passenger with the hunting knife ended up turning the knife over to a gate agent before getting on his flight: "But the TSA didn't interview him and even let him get on the plane, the law enforcement source said. The Port Authority Police said they were not called to the area.... Hours later, TSA screeners spotted a smoke bomb the size of a dynamite stick inside a bag. But instead of leaving it in the machine and calling cops, one screener took the smoke device out of the bag and showed it to colleagues, the law enforcement source said. The passenger in that incident was also allowed to board the plane."

The TSA claims that protocol was followed in the smoke bomb incident, but admitted that the agent who missed the hunting knife was going through remedial training. Hope those subway bag checks are going well!

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By Jen Chung in News on August 19, 2010 12:20 PM

Comments [rss]

jaycjay

"But the TSA didn't interview him and even let him get on the plane"

And... what's wrong with that? If the guy had any criminal intent, obviously he would've just carried the knife onto the plane.

No laws were broken by either of the individuals mentioned here in possessing the items in question; why all the paranoid hysteria?

jules1000

exactly! I forgot my pocket knife a few times in my hand luggage. They always found it, and then I either checked it, or they took it and discarded it. And of course they let me go as they should have.

Just having a knife doesn't mean you're a terrorist. Should they interview everyone who has a small knife or tweezers?

Mordicai

I saw a guy get on to a plane wearing a BELT. Do you know you can whip a guy with a belt? Choke one? When he took out his pen to doodle on a napkin I knew for sure: terrorist ninja. A pen is just a knife that he has ink in it! I won't rest till we're all safe, till every passenger is placed in cuffs & gagged.

DanielJ

Shouldn't we not be reporting this type of stuff, to attempt to maintain the illusion that all this theatre is actually thwarting something?

jt10000

Thanks Kevin.

Kevin Bracken

Remember, if they try to search your bag on the subway, say: "I don't consent to any searches, sir," and calmly leave the station. You can walk to another one and get on there, rights intact.