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Stumble It!Airports nationwide will no longer prohibit certain items for passengers to take onboard beginning Dec. 22, United States Transportation Security Administration chief Kip Hawley announced this morning.
These items could include scissors shorter than four inches and tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, and pliers smaller than seven inches. Box-cutters and small knives will remain on the list of banned items.
The White House approved the plan, but the idea of allowing sharp objects in the workplace upset some flight attendants.
"This is ludacris. TSA should not be allowing sharp objects or other dangerous items that can be used as weapons aboard aircraft," Chris Witkowski, Association of Flight Attendants, said.
According to the Transportation Security Administration, the security screening policy is part of a broader effort aimed at having screeners spend more of their time searching for explosives, rather than smaller or sharper objects that don't pose as great a risk.
"A comb can even be a weapon, so what difference does it make if a person does take a little file or something on the plane, because it can do as much damage as a comb can. So a little leeway I think will be all right," Kenneth Burkhart, frequent flier, said.
In addition to the change, more passengers will be subjected to a secondary screening. Pat downs will include the arms, legs and torso. Passengers can also expect to see more random checks at the security gate.
Other fliers like Cherie Burkhart hope that changes won't lead to a more lenient security policy.
"To a point that's fine to get a little leeway on it," Burkhart said. "I like to carry my little file with me and things like that, but I don't want it to go too far. I still think we need the security. I think it if takes a little longer to go through it's fine. I'll have the patience because I want to be safe when I fly."
As of right now, the Kansas City International Airport received no documentation from the TSA of the items that will soon become allowed and have not received much information about the process.
