(EU)Swiss lift ban on knives aboard airlines

USP45 · January 3, 2002, 09:58 AM

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,...002051,00.html

THURSDAY JANUARY 03 2002

Swiss allow army knives on aircraft

BY BEN WEBSTER, TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT

AIRLINE passengers bound for Britain are being allowed to carry knives on board aircraft after Switzerland lifted a ban on all knives in hand luggage that was imposed after the September 11 attacks.
Passengers on a Crossair flight from Geneva to London City Airport yesterday were alarmed to see security officials find a knife in a man’s bag, then hand it back to him and allow him to board the aircraft.

Mohammed Atta, the ringleader of the September 11 hijackers, bought two Swiss Army knives at the duty-free store in Zurich airport in July 8.

Switzerland lifted its ban a few days before Christmas, a time when, traditionally, many people would fly abroad carrying Swiss Army knives as presents or souvenirs.

A London broker who lost dozens of colleagues in the World Trade Centre attacks was among those who complained to airport and airline staff at Geneva yesterday.

Matthew McCarthy, who was travelling home from a skiing holiday, said: “The security guard opened the blade, which was big enough for me to see clearly from behind the scanner.

“I was astonished when the guard handed it back to the man. The man was allowed to board with the knife and he sat a few feet away from the cockpit.”

January 3, 2002, 09:58 AM	#1
USP45 Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2000 Location: Peoples Commonwealth of Massachusetts Posts: 1,562	(EU)Swiss lift ban on knives aboard airlines http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,...002051,00.html THURSDAY JANUARY 03 2002 Swiss allow army knives on aircraft BY BEN WEBSTER, TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT AIRLINE passengers bound for Britain are being allowed to carry knives on board aircraft after Switzerland lifted a ban on all knives in hand luggage that was imposed after the September 11 attacks. Passengers on a Crossair flight from Geneva to London City Airport yesterday were alarmed to see security officials find a knife in a man’s bag, then hand it back to him and allow him to board the aircraft. Mohammed Atta, the ringleader of the September 11 hijackers, bought two Swiss Army knives at the duty-free store in Zurich airport in July 8. Switzerland lifted its ban a few days before Christmas, a time when, traditionally, many people would fly abroad carrying Swiss Army knives as presents or souvenirs. A London broker who lost dozens of colleagues in the World Trade Centre attacks was among those who complained to airport and airline staff at Geneva yesterday. Matthew McCarthy, who was travelling home from a skiing holiday, said: “The security guard opened the blade, which was big enough for me to see clearly from behind the scanner. “I was astonished when the guard handed it back to the man. The man was allowed to board with the knife and he sat a few feet away from the cockpit.” __________________ ~USP "[Even if there would be] few tears shed if and when the Second Amendment is held to guarantee nothing more than the state National Guard, this would simply show that the Founders were right when they feared that some future generation might wish to abandon liberties that they considered essential, and so sought to protect those liberties in a Bill of Rights. We may tolerate the abridgement of property rights and the elimination of a right to bear arms; but we should not pretend that these are not reductions of rights." -- Justice Scalia 1998