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.

People do it all the time. Usually they say they didn't know you couldn't bring those items.

Which rock have they been living under for the last, oh, few decades?!

I'm guessing these folks were chefs (or mafia members)?

True story, I'm talking to a supervisor at the front of the queue next to a nice big sign we put up that states Torch Lighters can't be brought on the plane (FAA issue, already discussed on another thread) when someone comes up to us, looks at the sign then pulls out a torch lighter (same as pictured on the sign) and asks "Can I bring this with me". The following answers go through my head:

1. "Why yes, ignore the sign it is for other people, not YOU".
2. "No and we just put this sign up a minute ago so just you can't bring the lighter on board".
3. "You must be a FF".
4. "You must be a FF who posts on FlyerTalk"

Of course I said "sorry ma'am, you can't".

So she says thank you, puts the lighter back in her bag and proceeds to the ticket checker and through the queue. The supervisor and I just look at each other shaking our heads. The screener finds the lighter, advises her of her options and then she says...


"I didn't know you couldn't bring them"


I had to hold the supervisor back from yelling "we just told you"

The 2 responses I usually get are (1) I didn't know you couldn't bring that with you and (2) I didn't know it was in my bag.

I've had one individual bring a survival knife with him. It was found on x-ray. When pulled from the bag, he stated that he was sure that it wouldn't be found so he brought it. I thanked him for allowing us the opportunity to search his bag and directed him over to the officer that was standing by him.

Kudos to SLC TSA on this one.

1) They caught a threatening object: large knives constitute a credible threat to aircraft passengers.

2) They didn't shut down the entire checkpoint and/or shut it down for long periods of time.

3) They caught it when it was still on the conveyer belt, not 5 minutes later causing a terminal dump.

Hopefully the police and TSA did a good job figuring out what was going on and metered out some appropriate punishment. (Even an anti-fine person like myself wouldn't see a problem with a nice little fine for someone dumb enough to bring a large set of chef's or larger knives through a checkpoint.)

Nice to hear a story of the system working. ^

Any sort of reward for the astute x-ray operator? I chatted with an 80+ year-old former private screener a few years back in an airport, and he said the x-ray operators used to get some sort of (minor) reward for catching prohibited objects on the screen. Helped to break the monotony.

At my airport, the x-ray operator and bag search screener that is involved in an item that results in regulatory fines will be rewarded with a pin and if the item is severe enough, a day or two off with pay.

Sounds like PBI, where they don't mess around! It is a minimum of a $500 fine if you bring a prohibited item in your carry-on.

I'm sorry folks -- this is just another example of the TSA doing what my home burglar alarm system is designed to do -- catch the amateurs. The difference is that my home burglar alarm system has a secondary purpose: I get 25% off my homeowners' insurance because the smoke alarms are also monitored.

This is certainly another victory in the war on terror. Gee -- the screener and bag checker could be special guests at the Republican convention a couple of weeks. Ashcroft could personally give them their two-day passes -- on national TV.

Hey, great idea ^

Wow, it's amazing that we narrowly escaped disaster without the aid of the National Guard!

Remember when those guys were walking around the airport?

^ to the handling of this situation.

Pretty sad when agency doing its job correctly is showered with praise for not failing.

Guess you never heard the term "Good Job" at work.

Now thats sad

I hear "good job" usually just once a year. It's a waste of time to say it every day.

If I ****ed up every other day, and couldn't be fired by government fiat, then a "good job" when I actually do it would be in order. That would be sad.