Passengers can carry lighters on planes
WASHINGTON (AP) — Airline passengers could still carry butane lighters onto planes on Tuesday, the date by which Congress had ordered them banned.

The Transportation Security Administration, the agency charged with prohibiting dangerous items on aircraft, offered no comment on why it missed the deadline.

The ban was ushered through Congress last year by Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore.

The two senators were concerned that the lighters could be used to ignite a bomb on an airline. Richard Reid, the convicted shoebomber, could have succeeded in blowing up a trans-Atlantic flight three years ago if a flight attendant hadn't smelled the sulfur from his burning match, they said.

Dorgan, through a spokesman, said he was disappointed the TSA missed the deadline. During a Commerce Committee hearing on Tuesday, though, Dorgan said he was pleased the TSA intended to issue an order on the lighters within a few days.


For those of you who would like to express your "disappointment" to Senator Dorgan.
His contact info can be found here senators