I was travelling through SLC (the local airport I frequently use) the other day. After I cleared the contracted security guard who checks ID (who thankfully was literate this week, see previous post) I was assigned a WTMD lane as usual.

As I got close to the WTMD our lane was suddenly shifted over to the next lane. Several TSA agents came out of nowhere and blocked off the area on the other side of the checkpoint by my old lane. The police were requested and responded quickly. All of the folks who just cleared the WTMD were matched to their bags and one couple was detained. Their bag was resent through the WTMD so the police could observe it.

Now, at this time I was close enough where I could see the screen on the x-ray clearly as the suspect bag passed through. It clearly contained five or six large knives, plain as day. The police removed the objects from the bag as the couple watched and they were all escorted over to the desk the local TSA manager and police have at the checkpoint. I do not know what happened next, because I left to catch my flight.

Anyway, this was all handled very quickly (less than 5 minutes), quietly, and efficiently. The folks in the other lanes who did not get shifted probably did not even realize what happened. The quick response of SLC TSA and police probably saved a terminal dump from occuring since they ensured that nobody from that lane left the checkpoint until the whole situation was resolved.

Of course, I am not so naieve as to suggest that the TSA foiled a major terrorist operation, rather I am simply commenting that at this time the system worked well.

One has to wonder about the stupidity of the people who bring such objects onto an airplane in their carryon in this day and age.