The Transportation Security Administration has decided not to allow small knives onto airline flights, backing away from its original intent to relax its carry-on rules.
The decision had raised loud protests from flight attendants and their unions, as well as many others concerned that even small knives would endanger airplanes and the passengers they carry.
The Associated Press, which interviewed TSA administrator John Pistole, wrote that knives and sports equipment like golf clubs and small bats will stay on the list of prohibited items.
The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions, which vigorously fought the TSA policy, praised the federal agency for reversing course. It issued this statement:
?We promised ?No Knives on Planes Ever Again,? and today that promise was kept. Terrorists armed only with knives killed thousands of Americans on 9/11/2001. As the women and men on the front lines in the air, we vowed to do everything in our power to protect passengers and flight crews from harm and prevent that type of atrocity from happening ever again.
?We commend the TSA for revising its policy based on input from front line aviation workers with the greatest stake in the rule change. The result is better security policy and the assurance that our nation?s aviation security system continues to be vigilant for knives that could be used in a terrorist attack or criminal act against passengers or crew.?
?No knives on planes ever again as Pistole reverses his decision to allow small knives on board,? the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents American Airlines flight attendants, chortled on Twitter and Facebook.
?On behalf of the 16,000 members of the APFA, I thank John Pistole for his thoughtful decision,? APFA president Laura Glading said in a statement. ?Passenger safety is every flight attendant?s top priority and we are pleased to learn that TSA agrees with our approach. I would also like to thank Congressmen Markey and Grimm for their bipartisan leadership on Capitol Hill.?
The American Federation of Government Employees also applauded the decision. ?AFGA national president J. David Cox calling it ?the right one for the safety and security of every Transportation Security Officer, airline passenger and aviation employee.?
?In addition to the lessons learned on 9/11 about the threat of terrorists armed with knives, our concern is for our members who are assaulted far too often by irate passengers,? Cox said. ?Keeping the knife ban will help keep those confrontations from escalating.?
TSA officials revealed in early March that they would allow knives with non-locking blades no more than 2.36 inches (six centimeters) long and a half inch wide through security checkpoints and onto airplanes.
The new policy was to go into effect April 25. However, the TSA postponed its implementation after the proposal received widespread condemnation. Now, it is keeping the ban on all knives.
?After getting the input from all these different constituents, I realized there was not across-the-board support that would serve us well in moving forward,? Pistole told the Associated Press.
By withdrawing the proposal, he said agency can focus on programs to identify the greatest security threats.
Transport Workers Union international president James Little released this statement:
?TSA Administrator John Pistole?s announcement today that passengers will NOT be allowed to carry knives, sticks and clubs on commercial flights is the right call. This policy shift will continue to ensure passenger safety.
?Three months ago, on March 5, and every day since, our union and others concerned about passenger safety urged that a policy shift that would allow sticks, knives and clubs on planes be reversed. The leadership of TSA listened and they should be commended for taking the advice of flight attendants and other workers at commercial airlines charged with passenger safety.?
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